UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
AT  LOS  ANGELES 


AN  EXPLANATION.  — Pago 


THE  BLOCKADB 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE; 


OB, 


U.  S.  SECRET.  SERVICE  ADVENTURES. 


BY 


W.   H.   THOMES, 

AUTHOR  OF  "THE  GOLD  HUNTERS'  ADVENTURES  IN   AUSTRALIA," 

"THE  BUSHRANGERS,"  "THE   DEAD   ALIVE,  OR  THE  GOLD 

HUNTERS  IN   EUROPE,"  "A  SLAVER'S  ADVENTURES," 

"A  WHALEMAN'S  ADVENTURES,"  "  LIFE  IN 

THE    EAST    INDIES,"  ETC. 


ILLUSTRATED 


CHICAGO: 
ALEX.    T.    LOYD    &    CO.,    PUBLISHERS, 

I  886 


Copgrig^t, 
anb  Sljeparb, 


COPYRIGHT, 

ALEX.     T.     LO\'D    &    CO. 

13S  i 


TS 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

AN  INTRODUCTION.  —  THE  HOUSE  OP  BLANK,  HAWSES 
AND  CO.  —  AN  INDUCEMENT.  —  AN  APPABITION.  —  A 
LOST  HEART. 

A  WOUND,  no  trifling  one,  has  laid  me  on  the  shelf  for 
some  months.  My  hull  is  shattered  with  rough  weather, 
hard  work,  and  constant  excitement  and  peril.  Yet  I  am 
a  young  man,  not  over  twenty-eight,  and  at  one  time  pos- 
sessed a  constitution  as  tough  as  a  nor'wester,  and  the 
strength  of  a  steam-tug.  Rest  may  restore  me,  medicine 
may  heal  my  wounds,  kind  treatment  may  banish  the  fan- 
cies that  at  times  take  possession  of  my  mind  as  I  think 
of  the  past ;  but  no  earthly  power  can  ever  make  me  forget 
all  that  I  have  endured  and  suffered  for  the  Union's  sake. 

And  now,  while  I  am  racked  with  pain,  unable  to  muster 
at  quarters,  with  no  immediate  chance  of  once  more  snuff- 
ing salt  water,  I  can  while  away  my  time  by  writing  an 
account  of  my  adventures,  more  for  the  purpose  of  showing 
how  secret-service  duties  were  carried  on,  and  what  means 
our  government  resorted  to  for  the  purpose  of  entrapping 
the  rebels,  breaking  up  blockade-running,  and  gaining 
information  of  Southern  movements,  than  for  personal 
aggrandizement,  or  pecuniary  benefit. 

9 

176413 


10  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

One  word  as  to  my  previous  history,  for  I  want  to 
commence  my  yarn  with  a  fair  wind  and  a  smooth  sea,  so 
that  my  readers  may  understand  me  and  my  motives.  I 
always  like  to  have  a  plain  talk  with  my  men  when  I  sail 
from  port,  so  why  should  I  not  call  all  hands  aft  on  this 
voyage,  and  tell  them  all  about  my  personal  affairs  ? 

I  arrived  home,  in  the  year  1862,  in  command  of  an  East 
India  ship,  owned  in  Boston  by  Blank,  Hawser  &  Co., 
for  whom  I  had  sailed  ten  years,  as  boy,  man,  mate,  and 
master.  The  firm  was  an  old  one,  rich  and  influential,  with 
stores  and  warehouses  located  on  Lewis's  Wharf,  with  nice, 
carpeted  offices,  old,  gray-headed  clerks,  ponderous  books, 
formidable  safes,  and  colored  charts  of  all  parts  of  the 
world,  which  hung  on  the  walls,  and  were  often  consulted 
by  the  house  when  a  ship  was  to  be  despatched  on  a  long 
and  uncertain  voyage. 

I  had  a  warm  reception  from  the  firm.  Perhaps  it  was 
owing  to  the  fact  that  I  had  brought  home  a  valuable  ship 
and  cargo,  that  I  had  escaped  the  perils  of  the  sea,  had 
outsailed  a  privateer,  which  chased  us  for  twelve  hours, 
and  only  gave  it  up  when  night,  a  gale  of  wind,  rain 
and  fog  hid  us  from  the  sharp  eyes  on  board  of  the. 
steamer.  These  things  may  have  influenced  the  house  in 
giving  me  a  reception  warmer  than  that  which  had  been 
given  to  any  master  in  their  employ  since  the  time  when 
old  Crosstree  arrived  from  San  Domingo  with  his  brig 
loaded  with  plate,  pictures,  books,  and  gold  and  silver 
coin,  all  of  which  had  been  put  on  board  by  the  residents 
just  before  a  massacre  of  the  whites  by  the  blacks.  The 
owners  never  called  for  their  property.  No  wonder. 
They  were  sent  to  that  unknown  world  where  man  is  not 
supposed  to  care  for  wealth,  or  the  vanities  of  the  earth. 
The  negroes  made  sure  work  of  it,  so  much  so  that  Blank, 
Hawser  and  Co.  were  enabled  to  estimate  the  profits  of 
the  year  at  something  prodigious ;  while  old  Crosstree 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  H 

retired  from  the  sea  altogether,  with  money  enough  to 
enable  him  to  spend  a  portion  of  his  time  wandering  around 
State  Street,  with  nothing  to  do,  except  to  chew  tobacco 
and  read  the  morning  papers  in  the  insurance  offices. 
It  was  always  remarked  that  the  captain  never  boasted 
of  the  manner  in  which  he  acquired  an  independence. 
In  fact,  he  never  once  alluded  to  San  Domingo,  or  ac- 
knowledged that  he  had  traded  at  the  island,  during  his 
long  and  eventful  life. 

But  I  have  to  deal  with  the  house  of  Blank,  Hawser  & 
Co.,  so  I  will  leave  the  ancient  mariner,  and  resume  the 
thread  of  my  own  yarn.  In  other  words,  I  will  make  sail 
and  keep  on  my  course,  although  we  may  not  come  to 
anchor  for  some  months. 

As  I  said  before,  the  house  gave  me  what  was  called  a 
warm  reception  when  I  landed,  and  reported  myself  and 
ship.  Mr.  Blank,  a  precise  old  gentleman,  with  a  red  nose 
and  white  hair,  a  keen  black  eye  and  sharp  face,  black 
clothes  and  spotless  linen,  a  lover  of  good  dinners,  a  gal- 
lant old  beau,  gave  me  two  of  his  white  fingers,  and  said 
that  he  was  glad  to  welcome  me  home,  and  trusted  that  I 
was  well,  and  that  the  ship  I  commanded,  the  Laughing 
Mermaid,  sailed  very  well  and  was  in  good  condition, 
and  that  the  cargo  had  escaped  damage. 

And  then  Hawser,  the  jolly  man  of  the  firm,  a  gentle- 
man with  a  large  stomach,  a  fat  face,  a  loud  laugh,  slapped 
me  on  the  back,  and  swore  that  I  had  arrived  just  in  the 
nick  of  time,  and  that  the  government  wouldn't  catch 
them  on  the  new  tariff.  Not  a  bit  of  it.  Two  days  made 
a  difference  of  some  fifty  thousand  dollars.  And  would  I 
take  a  drink  ? 

I  did  not  refuse  the  drink,  because  Hawser  would  have 
felt  offended  at  my  refusal,  and  because  he  always  kept 
good  liquors  in  his  private  foOiU,  and  was  rather  liberal 
with  them ;  while  Blank,  that  tail,  stately  man,  wot^u 


12  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 

have  felt  insulted  had  he  been  asked  to  touch  glasses  with 
one  of  his  masters. 

While  the  ship  was  unloading,  I  was  a  frequent  visitor 
at  the  counting-room,  confidently  .expecting  that  I  should 
again  have  the  vessel,  and  wondering  where  I  would  be 
jent,  when  one  morning  Mr.  Blank  sent  for  me  to  enter 
his  private  room,  and  talk  on  business. 

"  Now  for  it,"  I  thought.  "  He  is  about  to  offer  me 
the  ship  and  increase  my  wages.  Another  trip  to  San 
Francisco,  and  then  Calcutta  and  a  market,  I  suppose." 

Such  were  my  reflections ;  but  they  were  not  quite  cor- 
rect, as  the  conversation  proved. 

"  Ah,  good  morning,  sir,"  and  Mr.  Blank  looked  up  as 
I  entered  the  room.  He  held  out  two  fingers,  and  allowed 
me  to  hold  them  about  as  long  as  a  man  would  care  to 
hold  two  hot  iron  balls.  "  Take  a  seat,  sir." 

I  dropped  t-he  fingers,  and  took  a  seat. 

"  Captain  Constant,"  the  head  of  the  firm  said,  and  as 
he  spoke  he  trimmed  his  nails  with  a  penknife,  "  we  have 
been  much  pleased  with  the  manner  in  which  you  have 
conducted  yourself  since  you  have  been  in  our  employ, 
over  ten  years,  I  believe  ?  " 

I  bowed.  He  was  complimenting  me  in  a  manner  such 
as  I  never  expected  to  hear  from  his  lips.  He  certainly 
will  increase  my  wages  I  thought. 

"  Yes,  sir,  through  all  the  changes  which  you  have 
passed,  while  in  our  employ,  from  seaman  to  mate,  and 
from  mate  to  master,  you  have  satisfied  us  that  you  in- 
tend to  do  your  duty  under  all  circumstances." 

Once  more  I  bowed.  "  At  least  twenty-five  dollars  per 
month  to  be  added  to  my  wages,  or  else  he  will  offer  me  a 
percentage,"  I  thought. 

"  Therefore,  we  conclude  it  best,  under  the  present  dis- 
turbed state  of  the  country,  to  offer  you —  " 

"  Certainly,  sir,  I  accept  with  much  pleasure.     I  want 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  13 

QO  better  ship  than  the  Laughing  Mermaid.  She  is  fast, 
a  good  sea-boat,  and  I  know  just  how  to  sail  her." 

"  How  !  "  cried  the  head  of  the  firm,  and  opened  hia 
black  eyes  to  their  widest  extent. 

"  The  Laughing  Mermaid,''  I  faltered,  fearing  that  I 
had  been  too  precipitate. 

"  O,  yes ;  didn't  I  tell  you  that  we  intended  to  lay  hei 
up  for  a  season  ?  " 

"  No,  sir,  you  did  not  intimate  such  a  thing." 

"  Then  I'm  sure  that  I  committed  a  great  oversight, 
for—" 

Just  at  that  moment  one  of  the  clerks  opened  the  door, 
as  though  to  speak  a  word  to  Mr.  Blank,  but  before  he 
could  utter  a  syllable  was  pushed  gently  aside  by  a  young 
girl,  a  vision  of  loveliness,  who  entered  the  room,  and 
danced  towards  Mr.  Blank. 

"  O,  papa,"  the  little  beauty  said,  "  they  told  me  that 
you  were  engaged." 

"  That  is  more  than  you  will  be  unless  you  leave  off 
some  of  your  mad  pranks,"  replied  Mr.  Blank,  with  a 
merry  twinkle  of  his  eye,  while  a  look  of  affection  mantled 
his  face,  stealing  through  the  crusty,  port-like  blossom  of 
his  countenance,  like  a  coat  of  paint  to  the  bare  bends  of 
a  ship. 

"  Engaged,"  —  and  here  the  young  lady  tossed  her  head, 
and  made  an  attempt  to  smile  in  a  scornful  manner  ;  "I 
can  be  engaged  at  any  moment,  but  I  don't  want  to  be  the 
slave  of  any  man.  I  like  my  freedom  too  well.  No  tan- 
gled engagements  for  me." 

"  I  believe  it ;  "  and  the  father  laughed  in  a  gratified 
manner. 

"  Besides,  I  like  my  home  too  well,  and  those  who  make 
my  home  happy,  to  care  to  leave  it;  "  and  the  beautiful 
girl  bent  her  head  to  her  father's  shoulder,  and  allowed 
her  rich  peach-like  cheek  to  rest  for  a  moment  against  his 
face. 


14  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

I  sat  M  here  I  could  not  help  noting  the  scene.  The 
parties  seemed  to  have-  forgotten  that  I  was  present,  so 
absorbed  were  they  in  each  other.  I  could  see  that  the 
father  loved  his  child  most  dearly.  That  he  was  proud 
of  her  beauty,  her  pert,  saucy  ways  and  winning  manners  ; 
and  I  did  not  blame  him  for  the  affection  he  displayed,  for 
the  young  lady  seemed  most  worthy  of  it,  and  I  felt  a  pang 
in  the  region  of  my  heart  as  I  sat  and  looked  at  her,  and 
thought  that  some  day  a  fine,  dashing  young  fellow  would 
come  along,  throw  her  his  handkerchief,  and  carry  her  off 
in  triumph  a  wife,  but  one  not  loved  half  as  much  as  such 
a  beautiful  little  piece  of  angelic  creation  should  be  loved. 

I  had  often  heard  of  the  only  child  of  Mr.  Blank,  but 
never  had  expressed  the  least  curiosity  regarding  her. 
When  the  clerks  in  the  counting-room  had  raved,  and 
declared  that  she  was  as  lovely  as  Venus,  I  had  manifested 
the  most  supreme  indifference  on  the  subject,  and  laughed 
at  the  love-stricken  lubbers,  as  I  termed  them.  But  now, 
as  I  sat  and  stared  at  that  well-formed  head,  covered  with 
masses  of  dark  brown  hair,  looking  soft  and  wavy  ;  a  face 
that  was  Grecian  in  its  character,  the  rich  blood  showing 
beneath  the  transparent  skin ;  the  sweet  hazel  eyes,  veiled 
with  long  dark  lashes,  like  pickets  thrown  out  in  front  of 
a  powerful  army  ;  a  form  that  was  plump  and  well-propor- 
tioned as  a  first-class  clipper  ship.  Well,  I  no  longer  won- 
dered that  the  clerks  were  madly  in  love  with  the  lady. 

"  Come,  darling,  sit  down  for  a  moment,"  said  the  fond 
father,  patting  the  young  lady's  soft  hair,  "  or  else  tell 
me  what  you  want,  if  you  are  in  a  hurry." 

"  You  know  what  I  want,  well  enough  now." 

She  laughed  and  clapped  her  gloved  hands  as  though 
she  had  uttered  a  good  joke. 

"  Where  is  the  last  I  gave  you  ?  " 

"  Gone,  papa." 

"How?" 


RUNNING   THE  BLOCKADE.  15 

"  A  muslin,  a  bouuet,  a  silk  dress  of  lovely  shade,  and 
charity  ;  you  shall  see  it." 

"  What,  the  charity  ?  " 

"  No,  the  silk  dress,  you  provoking  papa.  I  shall  wear 
it  to  church  next  Sunday." 

"  And  the  bonnet,  puss  ?  " 

"  Will  also  add  to  my  attractions.  I  intend  you  shall  be 
proud  of  your  daughter." 

The  father  smiled  and  pinched  her  cheek.  It  was  evi- 
dent enough  that  he  was  proud  of  her,  without  her  gay 
rigging  and  trappings,  and  I  was  satisfied  that  Miss  Hatty 
Blank,  the  full  name  of  my  little  beauty,  loved  her  father 
with  a  devotion  that  was  rather  unusual  in  these  days  of 
selfishness. 

All  of  a  sudden  Miss  Hatty  turned  her  hazel  eyes  on 
me,  for  I  had  coughed  in  a  slight  manner  to  show  that 
some  one  was  present.  They  rested  on  my  face  for  the 
space  of  a  second  or  two,  a  haughty,  well-bred  stare,  not 
impolite,  but  inquisitive,  as  much  as  to  say,  — 

"  Pray,  who  are  you,  sir,  with  your  black  eyes,  sunburnt 
face,  and  curly  hair?  " 

Truth  compels  me  to  state  that  I  so  far  forgot  myself  as 
to  return  her  stare  with  such  intense  admiration  that  Miss 
Hatty  was  compelled  to  lower  her  eyes  and  turn  her  head, 
while  a  blush  passed  over  her  face  that  was  like  the  glow 
on  the  water  in  a  tropical  climate  at  snnset. 

Mr.  Blank  —  happy  man  to  be  the  father  of  so  much 
loveliness  —  did  not  note  the  exchange  of  glances  between 
his  daughter  and  myself.  He  was  too  much  occupied  in 
looking  over  a  letter  to  regard  us ;  but  his  daughter,  after 
one  more  effort  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  my  face,  and  finding 
that  I  was  still  looking  at  her,  laid  her  hand  on  her  father's- 
arm,  and  said, — 

"  Papa,  you  are  not  paying  the  least  attention  to  me,  01 
this  —  this  —  " 
2 


1ft  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

She  stole  a  third  look  at  me,  and  then  finished  hei 
speech  — 

"  Gentleman."     • 

I  had  won  the  victory.  I  had  extracted  the  word  from 
her  in  defiance  of  her  will.  She  had  acknowledged  my 
gentility  in  spite  of  her  wish  not  to  do  so. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  my  dear  child  ;  bat  I  was  not 
aware  that  you  were  of  so  much  importance." 

"  But  perhaps  this  gentleman  has  business  w^th  you 
that  requires  haste." 

This  time  there  was  no  hesitancy  when  the  word  gentle- 
man was  used. 

"  He  has  business  with  me,  but  is  not  in  haste,"  was  the 
father's  reply. 

There  was  no  offer  at  an  introduction.  The  rich  mer- 
chant did  not  think  that  the  master  of  one  of  his  ships  was 
a  suitable  person  to  favor  with  an  introduction  to  his  only 
child.  Perhaps  he  feared  that  I  might  claim  the  honor  of 
her  acquaintance  on  the  strength  of  it.  I  felt  my  heart 
swell  within  me  at  the  thought ;  but  I  restrained  all  out- 
ward sign  of  emotion,  for  I  had  learned  that  severe  trial 
at  an  early  day.  Self-discipline  was  one  of  my  virtues. 
I  could  always  wait  with  some  degree  of  patience  for 
events. 

Just  at  this  moment  the  office  door  opened,  and  a  favoi 
ite  clerk  entered  with  some  papers  in  his  hand.  He  was  a 
man  nearly  forty  years  of  age,  with  iron-gray  hair,  a  smooth 
face,  clean  shaved,  thin  lips,  eyes  that  never  met  your 
own  ;  always  meditating,  never  surprised ;  civil  to  all,  yet 
exchanging  words  with  but  few.  Such  were  the  traits  of 
Kirier  King,  who  had  been  in  the  house  for  thirty  years,  ris- 
ing from  the  position  of  office  boy,  errand  boy,  entry  clerk, 
to  that  of  a  favorite  clerk,  at  a  salary  of  two  thousand  dol- 
lars per  annum. 

Kiner  stopped  when  he  was  near  Mr.  Blank's  desk,  and 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  17 

looked  as  though  undecided  whether  to  move  on  01 
retreat. 

"  Excuse  me,  sir,"  he  said,  addressing  the  merchant. 
"  I  was  not  aware  that  you  had  company  in  your  room. 
Shall  I  retire  ?  " 

Even  as  the  man  spoke,  he  had  time  to  make  a  most 
profound  and  respectful  bow  to  Miss  Hatty,  as  though  she 
must  not  judge  him  harshly  for  what  he  had  done.  Bui 
Miss  Hai/ty  appeared  to  be  obdurate,  for  she  tossed  her 
pretty  head,  and  looked  as  if  she  was  not  in  a  gracious 
mood  with  the  favorite  clerk. 

"  O,  speak  on,  Kiner,"  answered  the  merchant.  "  I  am 
not  particularly  engaged  at  this  moment.  What  is  it  you 
want?" 

"  A  few  papers  to  sign,  sir.  Shall  I  leave  them  on  your 
desk?" 

"  Yes.     I  will  look  over  them  in  a  short  time." 

The  smooth-faced  clerk  laid  the  papers  on  the  desk,  and 
then  turned  to  leave  the  room,  but  for  one  moment  he 
stopped  near  Miss  Blank,  and  while  rubbing  his  hands,  as 
if  to  promote  warmth,  said,  — 

"  I  hope  that  Miss  Blank  is  enjoying  good  health  at  the 
present  time." 

"Yes." 

The  answer  was  pert  and  curt,  and  such  the  young  lady 
intended  it,  for  she  left  her  chair,  turned  her  back  OD 
Kiner,  and  walked  to  the  window. 

The  favorite  clerk  did  not  manifest  the  least  sign  of 
displeasure  ;  but  he  glanced  at  me,  as  if  to  note  the  effect 
of  her  conduct,  and  then  his  dull,  leaden  eyes  were  low- 
ered, and  he  left  the  room,  stealing  through  the  doorway 
like  a  snake  that  was  in  search  of  a  field-mouse. 

I  noted  all,  and  considered.  "  There  is  some  mystery 
here,"  I  thought. 

As  Kiner  closed  the  door,  Miss  Hatty  left  her  positior 


18  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

at  the  window.  She  appeared  to  recover  her  spirits  the 
instant  the  favorite  clerk  was  out  of  sight. 

"  Now,  papa,  give  me  the  money  I  asked  you  for, 
please." 

He  laughed,  went  to  the  safe,  took  out  some  bills,  and 
handed  them  to  her. 

"  Will  that  be  enough,  pet  ?  " 

"  I  will  make  it  go  just  as  far  as  possible,  papa ;  but  you 
don't  know  how  many  things  I  have  to  buy." 

Her  father  laughed.  The  young  lady  stowed  the  money 
in  her  purse,  gave  me  a  glance  of  her  eyes,  and  then 
danced  from  the  private  room  to  her  carriage  at  the 
door ;  but  when  she  left  the  apartment  she  carried  my 
heart  with  her,  more  securely  imprisoned  than  the  green- 
backs which  she  had  secured  in  her  purse. 

As  the  door  closed  upon  .the  retreating  form  of  Miss 
Hatty  Blank,  I  felt  that  she  had  taken  all  the  sunshine 
and  light  of  the  room  with  her ;  but  from  these  reflections 
Mr.  Blank  aroused  me. 

"  Now,  Constant,  we  can  proceed  to  business,  having 
got  rid  of  that  troublesome  magpie.  As  I  said  before,  we 
have  resolved  to  let  the  ship  lay  up  for  a  season,  on  account 
of  the  rebel  privateers.  We  don't  feel  like  transferring 
her  flag,  and  if  we  did,  we  should  have  to  employ  an 
Englishman  to  command  her.  You  would  not  care  to 
take  a  mate's  berth  once  more  ?  " 

I  shook  my  head. 

"No,  I  suppose  not,  and  I  don't  mean  to  offer  it  to  you  ; 
but  I  have  something  else  to  give  you  that  I  think  will  be 
acceptable," 

I  looked  at  him,  wondering  what  was  coming. 

"The  day  after  your  arrival  home,  I  wrote  to  Mr. 
Welles,  the  Secretary  of  the  -Navy,  mentioning  some  of 
your  good  qualities,  and  recommending  that  you  should  be 
appointed  a  volunteer  lieutenant  in  the  navy,  and  de- 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  19 

spatched  on  secret  service,  or  else  sent  down  to  do  blockade 
duty.  Let  me  see,  are  you  acquainted  with  the  harbors 
on  the  Southern  coast  ?  " 

"Yes,  I  have  sailed  from  Wilmington,  Savannah, 
Charleston,  Mobile,  and  New  Orleans,  and  have  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  places  named." 

"  Then  you  are  just  the  man  that  government  wants. 
But  stay,  I'll  read  the  secretary's  letter,  and  let  you  heai 
what  he  says." 

Mr.  Blank  read  a  document,  and  I  found  that  Mr. 
Welles  was  anxious  to  see  me  before  he  gave  me  the 
appointment,  and  that  he  expected  I  would  visit  Wash- 
ington without  delay,  and  confer  with  him  on  matters  which 
were  for  the  benefit  of  the  country. 

At  any  rate,  Mr.  Welles  promised  that  I  should  be 
taken  care  of,  and  receive  an  appointment  according  to 
my  merits. 

"  I  have  taken  this  trouble,"  said  Mr.  Blank,  "  in  your 
behalf,  on  account  of  the  long  time  that  you  have  been  in 
our  employ,  and  the  sincere  esteem  which  I  have  for  you. 
Our  country  needs  just  such  men  as  you  are,  —  bold,  active, 
and  enterprising." 

I  had  not  listened  to  one  half  of  this  address,  for  my 
thoughts  were  far  away,  in  a  certain  carriage  that  was 
moving  along  through  Washington  Street,  freighted  with  a 
load  more  precious  than  a  homeward  bound  East  Indiaman. 
I  imagined  the  lady  looking  to  the  right  and  left,  bowing  to 
this  one,  smiling  to  that,  happy  and  free  of  trouble,  as  all 
young  girls  should  be.  When  I  looked  up  and  saw  that ' 
Mr.  Blank  expected  an  answer,  and  that  he  had  waited 
some  seconds  for  one,  while  I  was  up  in  the  clouds,  or 
becalmed  among  the  curls  of  his  daughter's  hair.  I 
blushed  a  little,  when  I  was  restored  to  my  senses,  foi 
allowing  such  weakness  to  overcome  me. 

"  Well,"  asked  Mr.  Blank,  after  waiting,  and  finding 


20  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

that  I  was  not  disposed  to  answer  him,  "  what  do  you 
think  of  serving  your  country  for  a  season  ?  I  tell  you 
candidly,  that  you  can't  do  better.  If  you  want  time  to 
consider  the  matter  over,  why,  take  a  few  days,  and  then  let 
me  know.  Of  course,  after  the  war  has  ceased,  we  shall 
welcome  you  back  to  our  emplo}r  with  much  pleasure, 
provided  you  want  to  come.  In  case  you  decide  to  accept 
Mr.  Welles's  offer,  take  his  note  with  you  to  Washington. 
It  is  a  letter  of  introduction,  and  will  secure  you  some 
little  favor  at  the  hands  of  the  officials." 

He  nodded  his  head,  and  took  up  a  letter  from  his  desk, 
as  though  he  desired  to  close  the  interview.  I  arose,  but 
as  I  did  so,  I  happened  to  look  down,  and  saw  lying  on 
the  floor  a  card.  I  picked  it  up,  and  was  about  to  hand  it 
to  Mr.  Blank,  when  I  noticed  that  it  was  a  photograph 
of  his  daughter,  which  she  had  accidentally  dropped  while 
in  the  room. 

Instead  of  handing  it  to  the  merchant,  I  put  it  in  my 
pocket,  and  rejoiced  to  see  that  Mr.  Blank  was  too  much 
occupied  with  his  letter  to  notice  the  act.  As  no  more 
words  were  needed  on  my  part,  I  bowed,  and  retired  from 
the  room. 

In  the  next  apartment  I  encountered  the  favorite  clerk, 
Kiner  King,  with  his  fish-like  eyes  and  smooth  face,  his 
cold  hands  and  calm  looks. 

"  Well,"  he  asked,  "  shall  we  welcome  you  as  one  of 
Uncle  Sam's  men?  " 

"  Perhaps." 

"  Are  you  in  earnest  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

I  think  the  man's  face  expressed  a  little  astonishment, 
but  his  looks  were  always  so  well  guarded  that  I  could  not 
;ell  whether  he  was  surprised  or  not.  Just  as  I  was  going 
out  of  the  office,  the  favorite  clerk  called  out  to  me,  — 

"  By  the  way,  captain,  did  you  ever  see  Miss  Blank 
before  ?  " 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  21 

"  Never  had  that  honor,"  I  remarked,  in  a  gallant  tone, 
for  I  thought  Kiner  meant  to  say  something  complimentary. 

"  O,  never  did,  eh  ?     That's  all." 

Down  went  the  fellow's  head  on  his  book,  and  he  ap- 
peared to  have  forgotten  me. 

"  Look  here,  Kiner,  what  in  the  devil  do  you  mean  by 
such  talk  ?  Speak  out  in  ship-shape  fashion,  and  don't  be 
beating  all  round  the  bay." 

The  man  looked  up,  closed  his  book  in  a  soft,  cat-like 
manner,  and  then  approached  me,  and  whispered,  — 

"  She's  a  dangerous  person  to  b»  acquainted  with, 
captain.  I  noticed  that  you  seemed  to  be  a  little  struck 
with  her  beauty.  Think  no  more  of  it,  and  if  you  should 
again  get  sight  of  her,  make  sail  and  claw  off.  as  fast  as 
possible.  That  is  all,  captain." 

I  could  not  help  laughing  a  scornful,  defiant  laugh  at 
such  advice. 

"  Why,  you  lubber,"  I  said,  in  a  tone  that  was  half 
sarcastic  and  half  joking,  "  do  you  think  that  I  would  run 
fiom  a  pretty  face  and  a  petticoat  ?  " 

He  made  no  reply,  and  I  walked  out  of  the  office, 
wondering  what  the  deuce  was  the  matter  with  Kiner. 

"  He  must  have  intended  to  play  a  game  on  me,"  I 
thought.  "  He  noticed,  probably,  that  I  was  a  little  struck 
with  Miss  Blank's  face  and  form,  and  thought  he  would 
have  a  joke.  Sharp  fellow,  that  Kiner." 

And  then  I  dismissed  Kiner  from  my  mind  ;  but  Miss 
Hatty  was  not  put  off  so  easy.  I  passed  the  day  doing 
nothing  with  my  hands,  yet  my  brain  was  busy  at  work 
over  the  proposition  which  Mr.  Blank  had  made,  and  the 
daughter  which  Mr.  Blank  owned.  Of  the  two,  as  be- 
came a  high-toned  sailor,  I  thought  most  of  the  lady ; 
and  while  I  was  thus  engaged,  who  should  slap  me  on  the 
shoulder  but  Crosstree,  who  had  formerly  sailed  for  the 
firm  of  Blank,  Hawser  &  Co.,  and  made  his  money 


22  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

through  the  San  Domingo  massacre.  The  old  fellow  was 
somewhat  bent  with  age,  his  hair  was  white,  and  his  teeth 
false,  but  his  eyes  were  as  sharp  as  ever  they  were,  and 
his  wits  as  keen  as  when  he  calculated  how  much  his 
share  of  the  plunder  would  amount  to  after  arriving  in 
Boston. 

"  Well,"  growled  Crosstree,  "  what  in  the  devil's  name 
are  you  looking  so  sober  for  ?  What's  the  matter  ?  " 

"  Matter  enough.  The  house  intends  to  lay  up  the 
Laughing  Mermaid." 

"  Well,  there's  other  chances  for  a  smart  young  fellow." 
Old  Crosstree  had  sunk  his  voice  to  a  hoarse  whisper  as 
he  uttered  the  sentence.  I  did  not  comprehend  the  man's 
meaning,  so  only  stared  at  him. 

"  Do  you  take  ? "  whispered  Crosstree,  and  punched 
me  in  the  ribs. 

«  No." 

"  Don't  you  know  a  thing  or  two?  " 

"  Hang  me  if  I  do  !  Come,  pay  out  cable,  so  that  I  can 
ride  free." 

"  Do  you  like  money  ?  "  whispered  the  old  salt. 

"  Yes ;  I  wish  I  was  worth  half  a  million  dollars." 

"  You  can  nearly  reach  that  figure  if  you  are  bold  and 
lucky  ! "  cried  Crosstree,  and  the  old  fellow  rubbed  his 
hands. 

"Then  I'm  the  man  for  the  money,"  said  I,  in  a  jesting 
tone.  "  I  want  a  pile  of  greenbacks,  and  I  don't  mind 
running  some  risk  to  obtain  it.  Come,  out  with  you* 
scheme,  and  let's  overhaul  it." 

"  Don't  speak  so  loud,"  the  old  sea-dog  whispered, 
clutching  my  arm  to  impose  more  caution.  "  We  must 
move  carefully  in  the  matter,  and  take  soundings,  'cos  we 
are  surrounded  by  spies.  They  are  all  on  the  watch  to 
spile  a  nice  little  speculation." 

I  began  to  have  some  misgivings  that  the  scheme  which 


RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE.  23 

Crosstree  desired  to  impose  upon  me  was  not  exactly  the 
one  that  would  bear  the  evidence  of  a  man's  loyalty.  But 
I  desired  to  hear  more  before  I  decided  on  the  steps  ] 
would  take  in  the  premises. 

"  Come  this  way ! "  the  old  captain  cried  in  an  eager 
tone.  "  So,  that's  well.  Now  no  one  can  hear  us. 
Listen.  Do  you  know  the  firm  of  Brass,  Iron  &  Co.  ? " 

"  Yes." 

"  Do  you  know  how  they  made  all  their  money  ?  " 

"  No  ;  I  never  gave  the  subject  a  thought." 

"  Well,  I  have  ;  "  and  here  old  Crosstree  chuckled,  and 
added,  — 

"I'm  bound  to  make  my  pile  in  the  same  manner.  You 
can  join  me  if  you  like." 

"  Name  the  business." 

Crosstree  put  his  mouth  close  to  my  ear  and  whis- 
pered, — 

"  Blockade  running." 

"  What,  help  the  enemies  of  the  North  ?  "  I  demanded. 

"  No,  we  help  ourselves  —  to  cotton.  You  see,  it's 
worth  a  dollar  a  pound  here  in  Boston,  and  we  can  buy  it 
at  the  South  for  about  eight  cents,  in  the  way  of  trade. 
Just  see  the  margin  for  profit.  Five  hundred  bales  would 
set  us  on  our  pins,  and  put  us  among  the  nobs  of  State 
Street." 

"  And  what  would  you  give  in  exchange  ?  "  I  asked. 

Crosstree  did  not  look  me  in  the  face  as  he  answered,  — 

"  Well,  shoes  go  well  down  there,  and  so  does  medi- 
cines, and  clothes  —  dark  gray  fetches  a  big  price  —  and 
they  say  that  powder,  revolving  rifles,  and  swords  are 
snapped  at  by  all  sorts  of  fellows.  Never  fear  but  what 
we  can  pick  up  a  load  of  stuff." 

With  an  effort  I  suppressed  my  indignation,  so  that  I 
could  learn  more  of  the  old  rascal's  plans. 

"  You  see,  we   can   ship  what  we  want  to  Bermuda, 


24  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

Havana,  or  Nassau,  and  then  buy  a  steamer  and  slip  into 
one  of  the  Southern  ports  on  a  dark  night,  and  out  in  the 
same  manner,  with  cotton  and  turpentine.  If  we  are 
lucky,  our  fortune  is  made." 

"  And  if  we  are  not  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Well,  then,  we  must  grin  and  bear  it,  and  try  again. 
But  there  ain't  much  to  fear  or  risk  to  run.  The  fellers 
on  the  blockading  fleet  are  asleep  half  the  time,  and  we 
can  slip  in  and  out  without  waking  'em  up." 

"  Captain  Crosstree,"  I  asked,  "  would  you  really  turn 
against  the  North,  and  help  the  South  in  the  manner 
proposed?" 

"  I  must  make  some  money,"  he  grumbled,  with  an 
averted  face.  "  I  must  live." 

"  Then,  in  the  name  of  Heaven,  if  you  must  live,  try  and 
live  in  such  a  manner  that  your  friends  won't  have  occasion 
to  blush  for  you  after  you  die.  I'll  be  hanged  if  I  won't 
live  and  die  poor  before  I  resort  to  blockade  running  and 
aiding  the  South." 

Crosstree  did  not  look  up.  His  hands  played  nervous- 
ly with  his  watch  seal,  and  he  appeared  most  heartily 
ashamed  of  himself.  He  had  made  a  full  confession  to 
me,  thinking  that  I  would  join  him ;  but  when  he  found 
that  I  would  not,  he  did  not  exactly  know  what  to  do. 

"  Come,  Crosstree,"  I  said,  after  enjoying  his  embar- 
rassment for  a  few  moments,  "  you  are  not  so  bad  or  so 
mercenary  as  you  appear.  You  have  been  testing  my 
loyalty,  I  know,  to  see  if  I  am  suitable  to  enter  Uncle 
Sam's  service.  Come,  own  up  that  such  is  the  case." 

"Yes,  yes  —  he,  he! — jrou're  right.  A  deuced  good 
joke.  I  played  it  well  —  didn't  I?" 

"  Yes,  you  did  ;  but  be  careful  that  you  don't  put  such 
jokes  into  practical  operation.  If,  as  you  say,  there  are 
spies  about,  take  care  that  they  don't  report  one  of  your 
little  funny  affairs.  If  they  should,  you  might  find  your- 
self in  Fort  Warren." 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  25 

Croustree's  false  teeth  chattered  as  he  listened. 

"  But  as  it  was  only  a  joke,  you  know,  you  won't  say  a 
word  about  it,  will  you  ?  "  pleaded  Crosstree,  with  a  most 
anxious  look. 

"  No  ;  I'll  keep  your  secret ;  but  let  me  advise  you  to 
turn  your  attention  to  other  matters,  if  you  wish  to  die 
in  your  bed." 

"  But  there's  so  much  money  to  be  made  in  running  the 
blockade,"  whined  Crosstree.  "  Brass,  Iron  &  Co.  have 
mado  a  whack,  and  they're  just  as  much  thought  of  as 
other  people.  The  banks  all  trust  'em,  and  all  the  nobs 
bow  1U>  'em.  It's  hard  if  other  people  can't  do  as  they 
do." 

"  K  they  are  traitors,  it  is  no  reason  why  we  should  be ; 
and  thf!  few  words  that  we  have  exchanged  convinces  me 
of  one  thing." 

"Yes,  what  is  it?" 

"That  it  is  my  duty  to  enter  the  navy,  and  help  the 
country.  I  shall  no  longer  hesitate." 

"  Well,  you  won't  split  on  me.  Say  that  you  won't 
peach,  and  I'll  give  up  (here  he  hesitated  for  a  moment) 
all  thoughts  of  running  the  blockade." 

Of  course  I  consented  to  keep  quiet,  and  then  I  left  the  old 
fellow  ;  but  a  few  hours  afterwards,  while  passing  through 
State  Street,  I  saw  Crosstree  and  Kiner  in  close  communi- 
cation, and  I  had  no  doubt  they  were  planning  some  out 
side  job  that  would  put  money  in  their  purses. 

Before  the  next  morning  I  had  concluded  that  I  would 
enter  the  naval  service,  and  serve  my  country  to  the  best 
of  my  ability,  provided  I  could  obtain  a  position  that  was 
suited  to  my  capacity.  When  I  announced  to  Mr.  Blank 
that  such  was  my  intention,  he  looked  as  pleased  as  a  man 
can  look  who  cares  but  little  about  the  subject  under  dis- 
cussioa.  He  gave  me  a  letter  to  Mr.  Secretary  Welles, 
shoo)  hands  with  me,  and  then  bowed  as  though  the  inter- 
view were  closed. 


26  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

I  would  have  given  something  to  have  asked  after  his 
daughter,  and  known  that  she  was  well ;  but  I  would 
have  given  much  more  if  I  could  have  caught  sight  of  her 
sweet  face,  and  once  more  witnessed  some  of  her  pert  airs. 
But  this  was  one  of  the  impossible  things,  and  with  a  sigh 
I  left  the  building. 

Three  days  afterwards  I  started  for  Washington,  where 
I  arrived  without  accident.  It  was  my  first  visit  to  the 
city.  I  found  it  full  of  drunken  officers,  loafers,  contrac- 
tors, blacklegs,  blackguards,  thieves,  bold-faced  women, 
Congressmen  willing  to  sell  themselves  and  country,  whis- 
key speculators,  and,  lastly,  office-seekers,  who  were  drunk 
two  thirds  of  the  time,  when  they  could  get  trusted  or 
treated,  and  were  clamorous  and  complaining  when  sober. 

I  went  to  bed  early,  and  the  next  forenoon  started  to 
find  the  Navy  Department  and  Mr.  Welles. 

I  was  a  little  uncertain  about  the  direction  I  should 
take  ;  so  I  wandered  on>  through  the  dirty  streets,  over 
the  dirty,  uneven,  tobacco-covered  sidewalks,  meeting 
smart  negro  girls  and  lazy  negro  men,  —  the  former  with 
an  air  that  seemed  to  establish  their  worth  in  their  own- 
ers' estimation,  and  the  latter  creeping  along  as  though 
fearful  some  one  would  ask  them  to  do  a  job  of  work. 

Washington  was  full  of  life  at  that  time,  although  it 
was  a  period  of  great  national  depression.  The  people 
were  trembling  with  fear  of  further  disaster,  yet,  at  the 
same  time,  were  hopeful  as  to  the  final  result.  No  one, 
to  have  seen  faces,  careless  and  gay,  that  I  saw  that 
morning,  would  have  supposed  our  country  was  the  scene 
of  a  terrible  civil  war,  and  that  men  were  falling  like 
leaves  in  autumn,  giving  lives  and  limbs  for  the  sake  of 
the  Union. 

After  I  had  wandered  along  Pennsylvania  Avenue  foi 
a  mile  or  more,  I  asked  a  cabman  where  the  Navy  Depart- 
ment was  located. 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  27 

The  knight  of  the  ribbons  looked  at  me  for  a  moment, 
with  a  species  of  contemptuous  pity,  emptied  his  mouth 
of  an  enormous  quantity  of  saliva,  and  then  asked,  with 
an  insolent  leer,  —  • 

"  D'ye  want  a  carriage  to  go  thar?  " 

"No." 

'•  Then  go  to  thunder,  whar  ye  b'long." 

With  these  refined  words,  the  man  put  a  fresh  piece  of 
tobacco  in  his  mouth,  and  devoted  himself  to  staring  at 
negro  wenches. 

At  first,  I  thought  that  I  would  thrash  the  man  within 
an  inch  of  his  life,  but  prudence  whispered  to  me  that  it 
was  better  to  pass  on,  and  not  touch  pitch  and  become 
defiled. 

As  I  wandered  along  the  avenue,  I  nearly  stumbled 
over  a  tall,  dark-complexioned  man,  whose  clothes  were 
none  too  neat,  apparently  made  without  regard  to  symme- 
try or  shape,  with  many  a  wrinkle  in  the  back  of  his  coat, 
and  pants  that  were  baggy  at  the  knees,  a  vest  that  was 
buttoned  awry,  the  bottom  turned  up,  as  though  in  open 
remonstrance  at  being  required  to  enclose  the  form  of  so 
uncouth  a  looking  person  as  the  one  who  stood  before  me. 
Yet,  in  spite  of  the  huge,  bony  hands,  the  rough  face, 
with  a  sparsely  settled  beard  on  some  portions  of  it,  as 
though  the  whiskers  were  uncertain  on  what  part  of  the 
countenance  they  should  find  rest  and  protection,  I  did 
not  fail  to  notice  that  there  was  a  certain  air  of  dignity  in 
the  appearance  of  the  tall  man,  which  told  me  that  he  must 
be  above  the  ordinary  run  of  Washington  visitors  ;  so  I  at 
once  pronounced  him  a  representative  from  one  of  the 
Western  States,  out  for  an  early  walk. 

"  Well,  stranger,  you  do  not  keep  as  nice  a  lookout  as 
you  might,"  the  tall  man  said,  in  a  good-humored  manner, 
as  we  both  stopped  and  looked  at  each  other  after  the 
collision. 


28  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  I  might  use  the  same  argument,"  I  answered.  "  It's 
as  much  your  duty  to  keep  your  eyes  open,  as  for  me, 
mine." 

"  Yes,  I  reckon  «uch  is  the  case  ;  but,  my  young  friend, 
they  pull  the  wool  over  mine  in  the  most  awful  mannei 
sometimes." 

"But  wouldn't  it  be  advisable  to  wash  your  eyes,  and 
clear  them,  before  venturing  into  the  street  ?  " 

"  Ah,  my  young  friend,  there  you  mistake  Washington. 
It  would  be  better  if  I  did  not  see  any  one  while  in  th.- 
streets  of  the  city.  I  must  see  a  great  deal  or  nothing  — 
and  that  reminds  me  of  a  story." 

"  O,  hang  your  stories !  "  I  exclaimed,  a  little  roughly : 
"  tell  me  where  the  Navy  Department  is  anchored,  and  I 
will  thank  you." 

"  So  you  want  to  find  the  sword  of  Gideon  —  do  you  ?  " 
asked  the  tall  man,  without  manifesting  the  least  excite- 
ment. "  In  search  of  an  office  ?  " 

"  That's  my  business." 

"  You  are  a  stranger  here,  ain't  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  I'm  glad  of  it ;  for  half  the  people  I  meet 
are  either  drunk  or  crazy  ;  and  some  are  impertinent/' 

"  That's  as  true  as  preaching,"  laughed  the  tall,  thin 
man,  who  did  not  appear  to  think  that  I  was  in  the  least 
personal.  "  There's  more  impudence  in  Washington  than 
you'd  encounter  on  a  Mississippi  flat-boat,  in  the  halcyon 
days  of  flat-boatmen." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  of  it,  sir  ;  but  you  have  not  answered 
my  question.  Where  is  the  Navy  Department  ?  " 

"  I  am  going  there,  and  will  take  pleasure  in  showing 
you  where  Gideon  reposes.  Come,  right  about  face. 
There  is  more  of  a  sailor  about  you  than  a  soldier.  I  can 
tell  that  much  by  the  manner  in  which  you  turn." 

"  You  are  right.  I  have  spent  many  years  on  the  ocean. 
I  like  it.  It  is  a  home  to  me." 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  29 

"  Then  you  should  enter  the  navy.  Just  such  men  as 
you  are  wanted.  Bold  and  active  young  fellows  rise  rap- 
idly, and  make  their  fortunes  capturing  blockade  runners. 
Come,  have  confidence  in  me.  Acknowledge  that  you  seek 
the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a 
commission." 

"  You  are  mistaken,  sir,"  I  answered  coldly  ;  "  I  have 
made  no  application  for  a  commission  ;  but  I  was  informed 
that  one  awaited  me,  so  I  came  to  Washington  to  see  what 
it  would  amount  to." 

The  tall,  ungainly  man  listened  to  me  in  silence  as  we 
walked  along ;  but  at  last  he  began  to  ask  questions  relat- 
ing to  my  past  life,  and  soon  discovered  that  I  had  com- 
manded a  ship,  that  I  was  ambitious,  and  that  I  was  loyal 
and  patriotic  as  a  man  could  be  who  believed  in  the  old 
flag,  the  Union,  and  the  blessings  which  the  country 
granted  to  all. 

The  information  which  I  gave  the  tall,  ungainly  man 
seemed  to  afford  him  the  greatest  satisfaction.  He  rubbed 
his  large,  bony  hands,  and  smiled  in  a  manner  that  seemed 
to  strike  a  darkey  whom  we  met  as  something  wonderful, 
for  the  negro  stopped  and  took  off  his  hat,  and  as  he 
bowed,  said,  — 

"  Glad  to  see  dat  grin  on  yer  face,  massa,  'cos  it  looks 
as  though  we  had  licked  'em  darn  rebels.  Ha,  ha!  guess 
we  hab  done  it.  Massa  has  news  dat  de  rest  of  us  no 
get." 

The  tall  man  raised  his  hand  —  a  sort  of  military  salute 
in  acknowledgment  of  the  bow  —  but  took  no  notice  of 
the  negro's  words. 

We  passed  on ;  the  conversation  continued. 

"You  think  that  it  is  my  duty  to  accept  a  commission?" 
I  asked,  after  a  moment's  silence,  for  I  began  to  be  con- 
vinced that  my  companion  was  something  not  often  found 
in  Washington — an  honest  man.  Therefore  I  was  inclined 


30  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 

to  put  more  confidence  in  him  than  I  otherwise  should 
have  done. 

"  Not  only  your  duty,  but  the  duty  of  eveiy  able-bodied 
man  in  the  free  States  to  do  all  that  lies  in  his  power  to 
crush  the  enemies  of  the  government." 

I  looked  at  the  man's  lank  but  vigorous  form,  and  a 
question  entered  my  mind. 

"  If  you  have  such  patriotic  thoughts,  why  don't  you 
enter  the  army  or  navy?  "  I  demanded,  in  a  blunt  tone. 

"  Well,"  answered  the  tall  man,  "I  would  if  it  were 
not  for  some  few  ties  that  bind  me  in  Washington.  I  am 
fearful  that  I  could  not  get  away." 

"  And  yet  you  were  just  telling  me  that  all  ties  should 
be  broken  for  the  sake  of  the  country." 

The  tall  man  laughed,  and  rubbed  his  hands. 

"  You've  caught  me,"  he  said,  "  and  I  don't  blame  you 
for  hitting  me  a  dig  ;  and  now  that  I  think  of  it,  I'm  re- 
minded of  a  little  story.  A  number  of  years  ago,  there 
lived  in  Illinois  an  old  codger,  named  —  " 

Just  at  this  instant  we  passed  a  hospital  where  there 
were  sick  and  wounded  soldiers,  and  two  sentinels  were 
standing  in  front  of  the  door.  The  soldiers  no  sooner 
caught  sight  of  the  tall,  dark  man,  than  they  seemed  im- 
bued with  new  life,  for  from  a  lolling  position,  half  leaning 
on  their  guns,  they  came  to  an  upright,  and  even  presented 
arms  ;  although  why  they  should  do  so,  when  no  one  but 
themselves  were  near  in  uniform,  was  a  matter  of  surprise 
to  me. 

But  all  seemed  to  be  taken  as  a  matter  of  course  by  the 
dark  man.  Up  went  his  large,  long  hand  as  an  acknowl- 
edgment of  the  salute,  and  for  a  moment  he  stopped,  and 
asked,  — 

"  Well,  my  boys,  do  you  get  enough  to  eat  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  both  answered,  with  one  accord. 

"  Then  you  are  satisfied?  " 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  31 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  with  all  but  the  coffee  —  that's  bad.  Noth- 
ing but  peas  and  beans,  and  sour  at  that." 

"  Ah  !     Have  you  complained  to  your  captain  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  And  what  does  he  say  ?  " 

"  Twice  he  was  too  drunk  to  say  anything,  and  the 
other  time  he  threatened  to  put  us  in  the  guard-house  if 
we  made  more  complaints." 

The  face  of  the  tall  man  grew  dark  and  stern,  as  he 
said,  — 

"  The  number  of  your  regiment,  and  captain's  name." 

Both  were  given,  and  noted  down  in  a  small  memoran- 
dum-book, and  then  we  passed  on. 

The  tall  man  saw  my  look  of  surprise,  and  said  in  ex- 
planation, — 

"  The  fact  of  it  is,  the  soldiers  round  here  look  upon  me 
as  a  father,  and  so  they  don't  hesitate  to  tell  some  tales 
out  of  school.  I  shall  have  these  complaints  investigated, 
and  if  they  are  true,  that  captain  will  lose  his  place,  and 
the  quartermaster  of  the  regiment  will  be  overhauled  and 
looked  up ;  and  that  reminds  me  of  a  little  story.  When 
I  was  practising  law  in  Illinois,  a  man  came  to  me  one 
day,  and  said  that  his  neighbor  had  stirred  him  up,  and  he 
wanted  redress.  Well,  after  a  long  cross-examination,  I 
found  that  my  client  had  been  in  the  habit  of  stealing 
wood  from  his  neighbor's  wood-pile,  and  had  taken  a  log 
that  contained  a  canister  of  powder,  placed  there  for  the 
purpose  of  blowing  up  the  man  who  stole  it.  The  scheme 
was  successful,  for  my  client  was  thrown  out  of  one  win- 
dow, his  wife  out  of  another,  and  a  grandmother  and  two 
children  were  lodged  in  a  garret,  while  the  stove  went  up 
the  chimney,  and  did  not  again  come  down  as  a  stove.  My 
client  wanted  redress  for  the  damage  which  he  and  hia 
family  had  received  ;  for  he  went  on  the  principle  that 
there  was  too  much  of  a  stir  for  so  small  a  stick  of  wood." 
3 


32  RUNNING  THE   BL'OCKADE. 

I  said  that  I  couldn't  see  the  point  of  the  joke. 

"  Ah  !  "  said  the  tal]  man,  "  that  is  unfortunate.  I  am 
afraid  that  I  must  tell  you  another  story  —  one  with  an 
application  more  plain.  But  here  we  are  at  the  Navy 
Department,  and  I  must  postpone  the  matter  till  another 
opportunity.  Step  light,  for  we  don't  want  to  wake  them 
up  if  they  have  not  turned  out." 

I  knew  what  the  tall  man  alluded  to.  At  that  time  the 
loyal  press  was  calling  upon  Mr.  Welles,  the  Secretary  of 
the  Navy  Department,  to  resign,  and  give  place  to  some 
one  who  was  wide  awake,  and  capable  of  infusing  a  little 
life  into  the  office,  so  that  the  privateers  could  be  swept 
from  the  ocean,  and  some  of  the  blockade  runners  captured 
or  destined.  I  had  paid  but  little  attention  to  the  charges 
brought  against  Mr.  Welles,  simply  because  I  knew  that 
our  newspapers  were  fond  of  grumbling,  and  if  they  could 
not  praise,  they  were  pretty  sure  to  condemn. 

As  the  tall  man  made  the  remark  about  stepping  light- 
ly, I  noticed  that  he  laughed,  but  in  such  a  manner  that  I 
was  certain  he  did  not  believe  the  caution  necessary.  He 
appeared  like  a  person  who  would  enjoy  a  joke  even  if  it 
was  at  the  expense  of  a  friend  ;  although  I  could  see 
nothing  in  his  face  that  indicated  ill-nature  or  vindictive- 
ness.  He  looked  like  a  man  who  would  not  feel  offended 
if  an  acquaintance  should  get  the  best  of  him  in  telling  a 
story :  so  I  put  him  down  in  my  own  mind  as  the  chap- 
lain of  a  western  regiment,  a  favorite  with  his  companions, 
and  a  man  more  noted  for  his  desire  to  see  justice  done  to 
the  soldiers  than  for  his  piety. 

But,  as  we  entered  the  Navy  Department,  I  saw  that 
many  of  those  whom  we  met  were  quite  profound  in  their 
manifestations  of  respect,  bending  low  as  they  passed  us, 
and  apparently  anxious  for  a  kind  look,  if  not  a  word.  All 
the  clerks  seemed  to  suddenly  find  something  to  occupy 
tH  r  attention  ;  and  one  fat-faced  fellow,  who  was  pariug 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  33 

an  apple,  while  seated  at  his  desk,  dropped  apple  and 
knife  the  instant  he  caught  sight  of  the  tall  man  and  my- 
self, as  though  detected  in  a  most  flagrant  breach  of  dcco 
rum,  and  then  bent  over  his  book,  pen  in  hand,  as  if  spurred 
to  renewed  exertions  by  the  sight  of  that  plain,  homely  face. 

"  He's  a  government  detective,"  I  thought,  when  I  no- 
ticed the  signs  of  fear,  and  just  as  I  arrived  at  this  conclu- 
sion, some  one  threw  open  a  door  leading  to  the  Secreta- 
ry's private  room,  and  in  went  the  tall  man,  without  being 
announced,  although  I  could  see  that  a  dozen  or  twenty 
people  were  waiting  for  an  opportunity  to  speak  to  Mr. 
Welles. 

For  a  moment  I  held  back,  but  the  tall  man  looked  over 
his  shoulder,  and  said,  with  a  smile,  — 

"  Come  in ;  "  and  in  I  went,  and  found  myself  in  the 
presence  of  Mr.  Welles  and  his  assistant,  Mr.  Fox,  both 
of  whom  seemed  a  little  surprised  at  the  visit. 

I  won't  say  that  I  did  not  feel  a  little  abashed  when  I 
was  thus  unceremoniously  introduced  into  the  presence  of 
these  two  gentlemen,  who  appeared  to  be  consulting  to- 
gether on  some  matter  that  was  of  great  importance.  On 
a  table  were  spread  maps  and  papers,  rulers  and  dividers, 
models  of  monitors,  iron-clads,  and  double-enders ;  while 
in  one  corner  were  flags  taken  from  the  enemy,  relics  of 
captured  vessels,  and  other  articles  presented  to  the  de- 
partment by  enthusiastic  naval  officers. 

As  I  entered  the  apartment,  I  thought  that  I  was  injur- 
ing my  prospects  by  the  abrupt  manner  in  which  I  had 
dropped  alongside  of  Mr.  Welles  ;  but  a  glance  at  the  tall 
man's  face,  so  full  of  assurance  and  confidence,  rather 
helped  to  restore  me,  and  I  was  enabled  to  watch  the  man- 
ner in  which  the  two  gentlemen  who  were  examining  the 
maps  received  my  companion. 

To  my  surprise  they  did  not  manifest  the  least  displeas- 
ure. They  left  their  employment,  came  towards  the  tall 


<J4  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

man,  shook  hands  with  him,  glanced  at  me  as  though  won- 
dering who  I  was,  bowed,  and  then  placed  chairs  for  both 
of  us. 

"  Well,  Welles,"  asked  my  companion,  in  a  free-and- 
easy  tone,  as  he  slapped  the  veteran  of  the  Navy  Depart- 
ment on  the  back  previous  to  sitting  down,  "  have  you 
captured  the  Alabama  yet  ?  " 

"  Not  yet,  sir;  but  I  have  despatched  no  less  than  ten 
vessels  in  search  of  her.  It  is  impossible  for  the  pirate  to 
elude  us  much  longer." 

"  O,  gammon !  "  interrupted  the  tall  man,  crossing  his 
legs,  and  then  uncrossing  them  for  the  purpose  of  putting 
his  feet  on  a  vacant  chair.  "  You  have  repeated  that 
story  so  long  that  I  really  think  you  believe  it.  I  tell  you, 
Welles,  you  must  wake  up  and  put  your  finger  on  that 
pest.  The  people  complain." 

"  One  moment,  sir,  and  I  think  you  will  acquit  me  of  all 
blame  in  the  premises,"  replied  Mr.  Welles.  "Look,  sir, 
and  see  what  the  department  has  done.  On  several  occa- 
sions it  has  saved  an  arm}',  it  has  reduced  forts,  it  has 
fought  battles,  and  never  yet  has  it  been  defeated,  or 
spared  the  blood  of  those  who  man  our  ships.  I  wish 
to  institute  no  invidious  comparisons  between  the  army 
and  the  navy,  for  I  can  afford  to  let  history  and  the  world 
judge  of  such  things ;  but  I  tell  you,  sir,  that  when  think- 
ing men  write  of  the  present  rebellion,  and  the  efforts 
made  to  put  it  down,  the  heroes  of  the  navy  will  illumine 
many  pages,  and  their  bravery  and  services  will  not  be 
eclipsed  by  the  army." 

"  Hang  it,  Welles,  I  know  all  that !  God  bless  the 
navy,  and  the  brave  men  who  man  it,  and  the  heroes  who 
have  given  their  lives  and  their  blood  for  the  flag  and  the 
Union  !  You  have  done  all  that  man  can  do,  but  if  you 
would  only  make  a  stir  in  the  world,  and  sink  those  con- 
founded privateers.  And  that  reminds  me  of  a  story." 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  36 

•'  I  l-eg  your  pardon,  sir,  but  you  have  not  mentioned 
this  gentleman's  name,"  Mr.  Welles  said,  and  pointed  to 
me. 

I  had  listened  in  silence  to  the  conversation  that  had 
ensued,  and  it  struck  me  that  it  was  not  intended  for  heads 
like  mine.-  I  was  astonished  at  the  turn  affairs  had  taken ; 
but  even  while  I  listened,  I  could  not  help  wondering  how 
the  tall,  dark  man  should  dare  to  intrude  his  advice  and 
satire  upon  one  of  the  most  important  departments  of  the 
country. 

Of  course,  when  Mr.  Welles  alluded  to  me,  all  eyes 
were  turned  in  my  direction,  and  this  seemed  to  recall  the 
tall  man  to  the  fact  that  he  had  brought  me  in  the  room 
when  he  entered. 

"  O,  this  gentleman,"  replied  the  tall  man,  with  a  care- 
less laugh,  "  is  one  I  picked  up  on  the  avenue  this  morn- 
ing. He  was  inquiring  his  way  to  the  Navy  Department, 
so  I  undertook  to  pilot  him  here." 

"  Good  Heaven  !  "  ejaculated  Mr.  Welles,  with  a  vigor- 
ous tug  at  his  beard. 

"My  God!  how  imprudent!"  remarked  Captain  Fox. 
in  an  almost  inaudible  tone,  as  though  he  felt  more  than 
he  dared  to  utter. 

My  lank  companion  laughed,  as  if  he  rather  enjoyed  the 
surprise  of  the  two  gentlemen,  while  the  reader  can  ima- 
gine that  my  situation  was  far  from  being  agreeable  ;  so  I 
arose,  and  prepared  to  retire  as  rapidly  as  possible ;  but, 
before  I  retreated,  I  said,  — 

"  This  intrusion  is  none  of  my  seeking.  The  gentle- 
man invited  me  to  enter  the  apartment,  and  I  did  so,  but 
with  great  reluctance." 

Mr.  Welles  and  Captain  Fox  stared  at  me  as  though 
they  could  hardly  believe  that  I  was  speaking  the  truth. 

"He  don't  know  me  from  Adam,"  said  the  tall  man, 
with  a  smile  that  was  intended  to  be  reassuring.  "  You 


36  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

seo  that  he  don't.  Come,  don't  frown,  Welles  ;  I've 
brought  you  a  recruit,  and  one  that  will  do  honor  to  the 
navy.  Sit  down,  Constant,  and  we'll  settle  this  matter 
before  wu  leave." 

Messrs.  Welles  and  Fox  did  not  look  quite  satisfied, 
but  still  they  seemed  a  little  reassured,  as  though  they 
could  not  help  themselves,  and  had  better  put  'he  best 
possible  face  on  the  matter. 

"  Yes,"  continued  the  tall  man,  caressing  one  of  his 
long  legs,  and  beaming  on  all  three  of  us  as  though  he 
really  enjoyed  what  was  going  on,  "  I  found  this  young 
man  on  the  avenue,  looking  for  the  Navy  Department,  so 
I  took  him  in  tow,  and  brought  him  here.  He  wants  a 
commission,  Welles,  and  must  have  one.  Give  him  a  lieu- 
tenant's berth,  and  then  set  him  to  work  on  that  mission 
we  were  speaking  of." 

"But  he  has  not  been  examined  as  to  qualifications. 
We  know  nothing  of  his  seamanship  or  intelligence," 
pleaded  Mr.  Welles. 

"  O,  fudge  !  I  can  tell  what  a  man  is  made  of  the  in- 
stant I  talk  with  him.  Come,  don't  play  offish  with  this 
man,  when  you  have  commissioned  a  dozen  who  didn't 
know  one  of  your  double-enders  from  a  flat-boat." 

"  But  he  has  no  references,"  pleaded  Mr.  Welles. 

"  Yes,  he  has.  Show  the  Secretary  the  letter  from  the 
firm  you  sailed  for." 

In  obedience  to  this  command  —  for  it  sounded  like  one 
—  I  handed  Mr.  Welles  the  letter  that  Blank,  Hawser  & 
Co.  had  given  me.  The  Secretary  read  it  carefully,  an<f 
then  handed  it  to  Mr.  Fox. 

"  The  letter  is  a  sufficient  recommendation,"  Mr.  Welles 
said.  "  I  have  had  quite  a  correspondence  with  Messrs. 
Blank  &  Co.  on  the  subject.  Mr.  Constant  is  here  at  my 
request." 

"  O,  he  is.     Well,  why  didn't  you  say  so  in  the  first 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  37 

place,  and  njt  make  me  .plead  so  long?  I  told  you  I 
could  pick  out  a  loyal  man  "as  soon  as  I  put  my  eyes  on 
him." 

"  But,  Mr.  President,  you  make  some  mistakes,"  laughed 
Captain  Fox. 

"  Mr.  President  I  "  I  thought,  "  what  does  the  man 
mean  ?  "  and  all  at  once  it  struck  me  that  I  had  been  the 
companion  of  President  Lincoln,  the  Commander-in-chief 
of  the  Army  and  Navy  of  the  United  States. 

"  Mr.  President,"  I  said,  rising,  "  I  had  not  the  slight- 
est idea  that  you  were  what  you  are.  Had  I  been  aware 
of  your  rank,  I  should  have  been  more  guarded  in  my 
speech.  I  pray  you  to  excuse  me." 

"I  have  nothing  to  excuse,  my  young  friend.  I  like 
to  hear  a  man  talk  just  as  he  thinks,  because  then  I  know 
that  his  words  come  from  his  heart.  To  hear  the  truth, 
a  man  must  mix  with  the  world,  and  be  prepared  to  take 
the  world's  opinion.  How  would  you  like  that,  Welles  ?  " 

"  I  am  content  to  be  judged  by  the  world  after  the 
bitterness  of  the  contest  has  passed  away,"  replied  the 
Secretary.  "  History  will  do  us  all  justice,  I  have  no 
doubt." 

"  Yes,  I  have  no  doubt  that  it  will ;  still,  it  seems  rath- 
er hard  that  one  can't  be  justified  while  living.  But  we'll 
drop  that  subject  now,  and  attend  to  business.  What  do 
you  mean  to  do  with  the  young  man  ?  He  is  just  what 
you  want." 

"  I  will  have  a  lieutenant's  commission  made  out  for 
tim." 

"Now  for  that  service,"  said  the  President,  when  I  had 
signified  that  I  accepted  the  appointment  of  volunteer 
lieutenant  in  the  navy  of  the  United  States. 

The  President  looked  at  the  Secretary,  and  the  latter 
looked  at  the  former,  and  then  commenced  operations  oil 
his  long,  white  beard. 

IT 14 13 


38  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  You  know  what  we  were  talking  about,  Welles.  Put 
the  question  to  him.  He  won't  squawk,  I  reckon  ;  "  and 
once  more  the  President  nursed  his  long  legs. 
;  "  Hem  !  well,  the  fact  of  it  is,  Lieutenant  Constant,  we 
want  you  to  undertake  a  secret-service  expedition.  No 
one  must  know,  but  the  persons  in  this  room,  that  you  are 
on  duty,  or  what  your  business  is.  Even  the  firm  of 
Blank  &  Co.  must  be  kept  in  ignorance  of  your  plans,  for 
it  would  be  dangerous  to  yourself  to  divulge  them,  and 
would  render  our  schemes  useless." 

Mr.  Welles  paused,  and  looked  at  the  President.  The 
latter  looked  at  Mr.  Welles,  and  nodded  his  head,  as  much 
as  to  say  that  the  right  tacks  were  aboard,  and  the  sailing 
quite  plain. 

"  The  scheme  that  we  propose  to  you,"  continued  Mr. 
Welles,  in  a  low,  confidential  tone,  "  is  one  of  danger,  but 
still  highly  honorable,  and,  if  successful,  will  be  lucrative 
in  the  extreme.  The  capture  of  one  cotton-loaded  ship 
through  your  means  would  place  you  above  want  —  in 
fact,  make  you  independent." 

"  Rich  as  Illinois  mud,"  the  President  said  in  a  half 
whisper. 

"  And  this  secret  service  is  not  so  honorable  as  some 
others,"  I  remarked  in  a  quiet  tone. 

All  three  gentlemen  exclaimed  against  such  an  impu- 
tation. There  was  no  way  I  could  serve  my  country  so 
effectually  as  by  secret  service  :  patriotism  called  me  to 
the  work,  and  as  a  man  I  could  not  decline  the  position 
that  was  offered  me. 

"  But  you  have  not  yet  explained  to  me  what  is  need- 
ed," I  said,  after  a  pause. 

"  Give  it  to  him  in  full,  Welles,"  cried  the  President. 
"  Make  a  clean  breast  of  it.  He  isn't  the  man  to  back 
water  after  he  is  once  floating  down  the  river.  I  kn 
him  by  his  looks." 


RUNNING  THE    BLOCKADE.  39 

Thus  urged,  Mr.  Welles  proceeded  to  unfold  his  plans  ; 
and  I  will  briefly  relate  them  for  the  benefit  of  those  who 
have  but  a  slight  idea  of  the  workings  of  the  secret-ser- 
vice force.  He  said  that  the  government  had  been  morti- 
fied at  the  escape  and  success  of  blockade,  runners,  which 
left  Nassau,  Bermuda,  and  Havana,  at  certain  stages  of 
the  moon,  for  Charleston,  Mobile,  Wilmington,  and  cer- 
tain parts  of  Florida.  He  wanted  me  to  disguise  myself 
as  a  common  seaman,  to  ship  on  board  one  of  the  block- 
ade runners,  to  find  out  the  signals,  and  to  do  all  that  man 
could  do,  without  exciting  suspicion,  to  enable  the  United 
States  cruisers  to  make  a  capture  of  the  steamer  that  I 
was  on. 

If  I  was  captured,  I  was  to  communicate  with  the  cap- 
tain of  the  United  States  vessel,  but  in  a  private  man- 
ner, so  that  no  one  would  suspect  me ;  and  then  I  was 
to  be  set  at  liberty,  or  allowed  to  escape  from  the  vessel, 
so  tha*  I  could  return  to  my  post  as  soon  as  possible. 

"  That  is,"  I  said,  after  a  moment's  reflection,  "  you 
want  me  to  act  a  spy's  part." 

"  No,  not  exactly  that,"  returned  Mr.  Welles.  "  I 
shouldn't  say  a  spy.  You  wouldn't  say  a  spy — would 
you,  Mr.  President  ?  " 

"  No,  I  should  think  not,"  returned  the  President,  bal- 
ancing his  tall  form  on  two  legs  of  a  chair.  "  Of  course 
not.  The  spy  service  is  different —  entirely  different." 

"  Upon  my  word,  I  can't  see  the  difference,"  I  answered. 

"  Tell  him  the  rest,  Welles,"  the  President  remarked. 

"  All  the  captains  of  our  cruisers  will  have  orders  to  look 
out  for  you  and  your  signal,  and  if,  through  your  instru- 
mentality, a  blockade  runner  is  taken,  you  will  share  in 
the  prize  money  the  same  as  a  first  lieutenant.  If  you  are 
as  successful  as  I  think  you  will  be,  you  will  rank  as  a  rich 
man  before  many  months." 

"  And  marry  the  girl  of  your  heart,"  echoed  the  Presi- 


40  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

dent.    "No  man  can  do  more  for  his  country  than  you  can 
if  you  have  a  mind  to." 

"But  it  seems  to  me  that  you  have  laid  out  a  large 
amount  of  work  for  one  man,"  I  said.  "I  can't  be  in 
Bermuda  and  Nassau  at  the  same  time.  A  dozen  men 
might  find  employment  in  looking  after  blockade  runners. 
In  fact,  I  should  think  that  a  hundred  might  be  stationed 
at  different  ports." 

"  Ahem ! "  coughed  Mr.  Welles,  and  recommenced 
combing  his  beard. 

"  Ahem  !  "  coughed  Captain  Fox. 

"Ahem  I"  coughed  the  President.  "Well,  we  won't 
say  but  that  we  have  a  few  agents  at  some  of  the  English 
ports ;  but  how  many,  you  won't  care  to  know.  If  you 
consent  to  undertake  the  service,  I  will  furnish  you  witli 
a  signal  by  which  you  will  be  enabled  to  recognize  all 
those  who  are  engaged  in  the  same  work  as  yourself,  so 
that  you  can  co-operate,  if  necessary.  It  is  just  the  work 
for  a  man  of  ambition  and  nerve,  who  desires  to  make 
money  and  fame  at  the  same  time." 

I  could  easily  imagine  all  that  I  would  have  to  under- 
go, dressing  and  acting  the  part  of  a  common  sailor,  or 
shipping  as  a  petty  officer,  receiving  hard  knocks,  and 
giving  them  with  a  will  when  it  was  necessary.  I  would 
much  rather  have  preferred  some  other  position  ;  but  as 
my  country  seemed  to  require  that  I  should  take  the  part 
that  Mr.  Welles  assigned  me,  I  reluctantly  consented. 

"  That's  .right !  "  cried  the  President,  with  animation. 
"  Give  me  your  hand,  young  man.  I  hope  I  shall  one  day 
have  the  pleasure  of  commissioning  you  as  admiral." 

He  slapped  me  on  the  back  in  his  hearty,  bluff  manner, 
and  then  shook  hands  with  me  with  renewed  energy. 

"  Come  to  me  to-morrow  morning,  and  you  shall  have 
full  instructions  regarding  your  new  business,"  Mr.  Welles 
remarked,  as  he  rose  to  intimate  to  me  that  the  interview 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  41 

was  closed.  "  I  shall  want  you  to  leave  for  Nassau  in  the 
course  of  a  week.  An  English  steamer  starts  from  New 
York  on  the  IQth,  I  think.  You  must  sjiip  on  board  of 
her  as  a  seaman,  and  receive  your  discharge  at  Nassau. 
But  we  will  talk  this  matter  over  to-morrow.  I  need  not 
remind  you  that  you  must  keep  your  own  counsel  in  this. 
Be  as  secret  as  the  grave." 

"  If  I  would  avoid  filling  one,"  I  remarked. 

"  Not  so  bad  as  that,  I  hope,"  the  President  said,  and 
then  he  whispered  for  a -moment  or  two  with  Mr.  Welles 
and  Captain  Fox,  and  left  the  apartment  the  same  mo- 
ment that  I  did. 

"  Come,"  said  the  President,  passing  his  arm  through 
mine,  as  he  left  the  building.  "  I'm  going  to  the  White 
House.  Will  you  go  with  me  ?  " 


CHAPTER  II. 

AN  UNEXPECTED  MEETING.  —  TILE  PRESIDENT  SERVES 
ME  A  GOOD  TURN. — AN  ENCOUNTER.  —  THE  RESULT. 
—  IN  NEW  YORK.  —  AN  IMPORTANT  INTERVIEW.  —  FOB 
NASSAU.  —  STRANGE  COMPANIONS. 

I  WON'T  say  that  I  did  not  feel  a  little  elated  at  the 
familiar  manner  of  the  President ;  for  it  was  something  to 
boast  of  to  have  him  put  his  arm  through  mine  and  walk 
along  Pennsylvania  Avenue,  talking  in  a  natural  and  un- 
affected manner  of  the  future  and  the  past,  of  the  failures 
and  the  triumphs,  the  hope  and  despair  of  the  nation, 
as  we  advanced  or  retreated  from  the  work  that  was  be- 
fore us. 

And  thus  we  chatted  until  we  were  near  the  White 


42  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

Flouse,  when  I  noticed  a  party  of  ladies  and  gentlemen 
coming  towards  us.  They  appeared  to  have  just  left  the 
President's  mansion  ;  and  I  supposed  that  .they  had  called 
to  pay  their  respects  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  and,  not  finding  him 
at  home,  were  about  drifting  back  to  their  hotel. 

There  were  four  ladies  and  two  gentlemen  ;  and  a  lively 
party  it  was  —  laughing,  chatting,  and  admiring  or  con- 
demning, as  they  looked  to  the  right  and  left,  and  saw 
things  which  pleased  or  displeased  their  fancy. 

Not  until  we  were  close  to  them  did  the  conversation 
of  the  ladies  subside  into  inaudible  murmurs. 

"  It  is  the  President,"  I  heard  a  young  lady  whisper  to 
a  gentleman  on  whose  arm  she  was  leaning. 

I  looked  at  her  and  the  gentleman  with  a  strange  thrill 
in  the  region  of  my  heart.  I  could  not  forget  the  sweet 
face  that  I  saw  before  me.  It  was  Miss  Hatty  Blank  and 
her  father,  in  company  with  several  Boston  friends. 

I  think  I  stared  so  hard  at  Miss  Blank,  that  she  dropped 
her  hazel  eyes,  and  blushed  as  if  she  were  not  accustomed 
to  admiration. 

"  I  say,  Constant,"  whispered  the  President,  "  there's 
a  confounded  good-looking  girl.  Do  you  know  her  ?  " 

The  President  would  have  passed  on  without  further 
notice  of  the  party,  if  I  had  not  detained  him  ;  for  Mr. 
Blank  had  recognized  me,  and  bowed  in  a  much  more 
familiar  manner  than  was  his  custom,  for  was  I  not  walk- 
ing with  the  highest  in  the  land  —  a  man  who  commanded, 
and  was  obeyed  ?  And  being  in  such  company  entitled 
me  to  some  respect  at  the  hands  of  Mr.  Blank. 

1  introduced  the  party  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  and  the  President 
shook  hands  with  all  of  them  in  the  most  affable  manner. 
To  Hatty  he  said  a  word  or  two  relative  to  her  beauty,  and 
complimented  Boston  on  producing  such  charms. 

"  So  you  have  been  to  the  White  House  to  see  me,  have 
you  ?  "  asked  the  President.  "  If  you  will  return,  I'll  en- 


RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE.  43 

ieavor  to  entertain  you  for  a  short  time  ;  and  for  the  ladies 
I'll  provide  a  treat  in  the  shape  of  handsome  bouquets 
fresh  cut  from  the  hot-house.  Come,  Miss  Blank,  take 
the  arm  of  my  young  friend  here,  while  I  walk  on  with 
your  father.  Don't  shake  your  head,  and  say  that  you  are 
not  acquainted  with  him  ;  for  this  is  Lieutenant  Con- 
stant, of  the  United  States  navy.  'Good  name  for  a  lover 
—  eh,  Miss  Blank  ?  But  of  course  you  never  thought 
of  such  a  thing  as  a  beau.  Well,  well,  never  blush  about 
it.  Here,  Constant,  look  after  her  a  bit,  while  I  talk  with 
Blank  about  Massachusetts  politics." 

I  must  have  been  somewhat  embarrassed  at  the  position 
in  which  we  were  placed,  for  I  know  that  I  blushed  like  a 
schoolboy,  and  looked  at  Miss  Hatty  as  though  asking  her 
to  take  pity  on  me ;  which  appeal  must  have  touched  her 
heart,  for  she  laughed,  and  whispered,  — 

"  Isn't  the  President  funny  ?  But  he  isn't  handsome. 
Do  you  think  he  is  ?  " 

In  the  mean  time  I  had  exchanged  a  few  words  with  her 
father,  and  been  introduced  to  the  rest  of  the  party  —  all 
from  Boston,  and  all  married  except  Miss  Blank.  Mr. 
Blank  was  so  much  elated  at  the  condescending  manner 
of  the  President,  that  he  was  .quite  willing  to  forget  his 
daughter,  and  permit  her  to  walk  with  whom  she  pleased  ; 
while  the  rest  of  the  party  kept  close  to  the  President's 
heels,  for  the  purpose  of  listening  to  one  of  those  cele- 
brated stories  for  which  Mr.  Lincoln  was  noted.  So  Miss 
Hatty  and  I  walked  along  in  the  rear,  quite  unnoticed  ; 
she  looking  very  demure,  and  I  rather  flushed  and  trem- 
bling, not  exhibiting  that  composure  and  firmness  which  a 
lieutenant  in  the  navy  should  always  show  when  in  the 
presence  of  an  enemy  or  a  piece  of  dimity. 

I  have  read  in  books  how  some  fellows  would  have  con- 
ducted themselves  if  they  had  been  situated  as  I  was. 
They  would  have  thought  nothing  of  vowing  lore  to  the 


44  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

girl ;  making  her  promise  to  give  her  hand,  and  thei.  eloping 
with  her,  and  marrying  her,  all  within  an  hour's  time,  and 
in  spite  of  the  vigilance  of  friends.  I  wondered  if  such 
dashing  lovers  would  have  dared  to  utter  a  word  to  Miss 
Hatty,  and  how  they  would  have  succeeded.  All  this  I 
thought  of  as  we  walked  along ;  but  still  I  did  not  find 
that  strength  which  novel-heroes  always  have. 

Presently  Miss  Hatty  looked  up  and  shot  a  glance  at  me 
with  her  dark  hazel  eyes,  and  with  the  glance  a  bright 
^mile,  as  though  she  were  thinking  what  a  goose  I  was. 

"  We  have  met  before,  have  we  not  ?  "  the  young  lady 
asked. 

"  Yes  ;  I  saw  you  once  at  your  father's  office.  It  Avas 
nearly  two  weeks  since.  I  have  not  forgotten  the  day  or 
the  hour." 

"  Indeed !  how  strange  !  "  and  then  she  flashed  a  glance 
at  me,  as  if  to  judge  how  sincere  I  was  in  my  expressions. 

"  Not  so  strange,  Miss  Blank,  when  you  recollect  thai 
sailors  are  rather  susceptible,  and  love  to  look  at  a  hand- 
some face  as  well  as  sail  a  clipper  ship." 

"  How  singular  !  I  suppose  that  in  foreign  ports  you 
see  many  beautiful  women,  with  dark  eyes  and  hair,  as 
graceful  as  ballet  dancers,  and  as  indolent  as  first-class 
beauties  have  a  right  to  be  ?  " 

"I  have  seen ' handsomer  women  in  my  own  country 
than  I  ever  saw  in  foreign  ports,"  I  replied,  with  a  low 
bow  and  so  ardent  a  look  that  the  young  lady  could  not 
misunderstand  my  meaning,  so  she  blushed  and  changed 
the  conversation. 

I  feared  that  I  had  offended  her,  but  her  face  did  HOT 
show  that  she  was  very  angry,  so  I  amused  her  with  my 
adventures  in  Washington,  my  first  meeting  with  the 
President,  the  mistakes  I  had  made  in  talking  with  him, 
and  other  matters  that  'Interested  her,  for  she  laughed  quite 
Heartily,  so  much  so  that  the  President  turned  and  asked,  — 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  45 

"  Constant,  what  is  it  you  are  telling  the  lady  ?  Some 
good  story,  I'll  warrant.  You  are  making  yourself  quite 
agreeable  for  a  naval  officer.  Recollect,  I'll  have  no  love 
affair,  for  the  nation  wants  you  at  this  time." 

I  felt  my  face  burn,  and,  to  add  to  my  confusion,  Mr. 
Blank  and  the  ladies  of  the  party  all  turned  and  looked  at 
me,  some  with  surprise,  and  others  with  a  haughty  stare 
of  contempt  that  was  almost  maddening,  for  it  showed  me 
that  the  estimation  in  which  I  was  held  was  not  of  the 
highest  order,  in  spite  of  the  appointment  which  I  had 
just  received,  and  the  affability  of  the  President. 

Had  I  been  a  regular  officer  in  the  United  States  navy, 
one  who  had  been  educated  at  the  expense  of  the  nation, 
I  should  have  been  considered  the  equai  of  any  man  or 
woman  present ;  but  as  I  was  only  a  volunteer  officer,  who 
entered  the  navy  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  hard  blows 
<md  aiding  the  country,  it  was  not  meet  that  I  should  be 
treated  like  some  of  the  gentlemen  who  affected  to  think 
but  lightly  of  volunteer  officers. 

I  did  not  talk  much  after  the  President  fired  his  shot. 
Miss  Hatty  noted  the  change  and  waa  also  silent,  and  not 
even  the  President's  jokes  could  rally  us. 

We  entered  the  White  House,  and  were  escorted  to  the 
East  Room,  looked  at  the  pictures,  and  then  were  con- 
ducted to  an  ante-room,  where  Mr.  Lincoln  made  us  drink 
a  glass  of  wine,  told  us  some  stories,  and  dismissed  us  in  a 
pleasant  manner,  with  an  invitation  to  call,  again. 

"  Constant,"  Old  Abe  said,  as  he  shook  hands  with  me 
at  thb  door,  "  let  me  see  you  before  you  leave  Washing- 
ton. I  have  some  good  advice  to  give  you.  I  want  you . 
to  take  care  of  yourself,  and  come  back  deserving  the 
thanks  of  your  country.  Don't  forget  that.  Always  beai 
it  in  mind  in  all  your  undertakings." 

"  I  will,"  I  answered. 

"  And  one   thing,  Constant,"  the  President 


46  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

still  retaining  his  hold  of  my  hand,  "  I  noticed  one  thing 
while  you  were  walking  with  that  young  lady.  You 
needn't  blush,  because  she  is  a  pretty  girl,  and  I  don't 
blame  you  for  falling  in  love  with  her  —  most  men  would. 
I  remember  when  I  first  commenced  practising  law  ir> 
Illinois,  I  saw  a  young  girl  that  I  took  an  awful  shine  to, 
but  she  wouldn't  have  me  because  my  prospects  were  i,-j 
uncertain.  Now  your  prospects  are  uncertain  ;  but  there 
is  no  reason  why  you  should  not  rise  to  a  position  in  life 
that  is  equal  to  mine.  The  father  don't  suspect  that  you 
are  hankering  after  his  daughter,  so  I  didn't  let  on,  but  I 
just  put  in  a  few  words  in  your  favor  that  made  an  im- 
pression. He  has  other  ideas  for  his  child,  but  don't  you 
give  up  the  ship  just  yet.  There  is  time  enough.  If  I  can 
make  you  a  captain  before  the  war  closes,  I'll  do  it.  But 
do  your  duty,  and  promotion  will  come.  Now  run  and 
gallant  the  girl  to  her  hotel,  for  I  see  that  she  is  looking 
around  for  you.  Say  nothing  to  Blank,  for  he  is  a  proud 
man,  vain  of  his  wealth,  position  in  the  world,  and  all  such 
nonsense ;  but  still  keep  up  hope  ;  and,  speaking  of  hope, 
reminds  me  of  a  little  story.  When —  " 

Lucky  for  me,  Mrs.  Lincoln  appeared  at  this  moment, 
and  so  I  made  my  escape  ;  but  instead  of  attaching  myself 
to  Miss  Blank,  after  I  had  overtaken  the  party,  I  walked 
with  her  father,  who  immediately  commenced  pumping  me 
on  certain  points,  one  of  the  most  important  being  the 
station  to  which  I  was  ordered  for  duty. 

I  had  half  a  mind  to  let  Mr.  Blank  know  the  secret  ser- 
vice which  I  had  undertaken  ;  but  I  remembered  Mr. 
Welles'  warning,  not  to  hint  to  any  one  the  duty  I  had 
promised  to  assume,  so  I  wisely  held  my  tongue  ;  and 
months  afterwards  I  had  cause  to  be  thankful  that  I  did 
not  confide  in  Mr.  Blank,  or  expose  the  secrets  of  the  Navy 
Department. 

"  So,  Constant,  you  don't  know  to  what  part  of  the 
world  you  may  be  ordered  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Blank. 


RUNNING   THE  BLOCKADE.  47 

"  No,  sir ;  I  don't  think  that  the  department  has  yet 
made  up  its  mind  what  to  do  with  me." 

"  Well,  I  suppose  that  you  will  soon  learn.  Do  you 
remain  long  in  Washington  ?  " 

"No,  sir;  I  think  not." 

"  Well,  I  would  not  if  I  were  you.  This  is  an  expen- 
sive place ;  and  one  meets  so  much  bad  company  here, 
the  morals  of  the  best  of  men  are  soon  corrupted.  Noth- 
ing would  bring  me  here  but  business.  Hatty,  my  dear, 
that  is  General  McClellan  whom  you  see  on  horseback. 
He  is  our  young  Napoleon." 

Of  course  all  the  ladies  cried  out  in  one  breath  that  he 
was  splendid,  handsome  as  Adonis,  and  other  remarks 
equally  complimentary ;  and  while  all  were  looking  at  the 
man,  as  he  galloped  along  the  avenue  at  the  head  of  his 
staff,  I  managed  to  take  my  leave  almost  unperceived  ;  for 
I  thought  that  I  was  no  longer  wanted  in  that  select  cir- 
cle, whose  pride  was  built  upon  money,  whose  hopes  were 
based  upon  money,  and  whose  thoughts  were  upon  money. 

As  I  walked  towards  the  hotel,  thinking  of  the  vari- 
ous scenes  which  I  had  witnessed  since  I  had  left  it,  I 
Chanced  to  look  up,  and  saw  that  Miss  Blank  was  just  in 
advance  of  me,  and  that  she  was  alone,  having  left  hex 
father  and  party  for  a  moment  to  do  a  little  shopping. 

This  was  a  most  imprudent  act  on  the  part  of  Miss 
Hatty,  and  if  she  had  been  acquainted  with  the  morals  of 
Washington,  she  would  never  have  ventured  on  such  a 
course  ;  or,  if  her  father  had  stopped  to  consider  that  the 
Washington  of  to-day  is  not  the  Washington  of  twenty 
years  back,  he  would  have  accompanied  her  on  her  little 
excursion  among  the  dry  goods  stores  of  the  capital  of  the 
United  States.  But  it  was  fated  that  he  should  not ;  and 
so  I  had  an  opportunity  to  once  more  run  alongside,  and 
speak  to  her. 

It  happened  in  this  manner  :  I  noticed  the  dainty  form 
4. 


48  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 

of  the  young  lady,  as  she  tripped  on  before  me,  so  I  quick- 
ened my  steps  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  close  to  her, 
admiring  her,  and  wishing  that  she  would  turn  her  head 
so  that  I  might  make  my  presence  known.  But  she  did 
not  look  back,  although  she  glanced  from  side  to  side,  as 
though  in  search  of  a  certain  kind  of  store,  and  could  not 
find  what  she  wanted. 

Those  eyes  of  hers,  and  the  glances  combined,  were  the 
means  of  producing  trouble  ;  for  an  officer,  a  young  fellow 
who  looked  as  though  he  had  been  doing  guard  duty  all 
night  and  part  of  the  morning  over  a  spirited  fortification 
of  bottles,  imagined  that  those  eyes  and  glances  were  for 
his  especial  benefit,  and  that  the  owner  of  them  was  rather 
struck  with  his  form  and  face,  the  latter  puffed  out  and 
inflated,  as  though  the  veins  were  filled  with  a  mixture  of 
liquor  and  gas,  and  the  former  all  stomach,  and  very  little 
shoulders. 

This  interesting  youth  noted  Miss  Hatty's  eyes  and 
face,  and  he  was  just  vain  enough  to  think  that  he  hud 
created  a  sensation  in  the  region  of  her  heart.  He  saw 
she  was  unattended,  and  supposed  she  might  not  be  un- 
willing to  engage  in  a  little  idle  flirtation,  like  many  of 
the  silly  young  women  of  Washington,  who  found  a  gay 
army  uniform  attractive. 

The  officer's  brain  was  stupefied  with  liquor,  or  he 
must  have  noticed  Miss  Blank's  air  of  reserve  and  dignity. 

I  am  glad  that  he  was  drunk,  or  too  much  under  the 
influence  of  liquor  to  make  nice  distinctions,  and  the 
reason  for  such  feeling  will  soon  be  apparent. 

The  military  man  touched  his  cap  as  he  passed  Hatty. 
She  did  not  notice  the  act,  or  even  look  at  the  fellow,  for 
her  thoughts  were  on  other  matters ;  but  he  supposed  that 
she  made  a  sign,  so  he  turned  and  hastened  after  her. 

"  My  pretty  little  posy-osey,"  the  drunken  fool  said, 
as  he  came  alongside  of  the  lady. 


RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE.  49 

She  looked  at  him  with  a  haughty  stare  of  astonishment. 
She  did  not  comprehend  the  man. 

''  Do.es  mv  little  ducky  want  comcany  ?  "  asked  the  offi- 
cer, and  ne  put  out  one  ol  ms  arms  as  tnoagh  he  intended 
to  throw  it  around  her. 

She  avoided  the  embrace,  yet  was  not  frightened,  for 
she  was  a  girl  of  courage  and  decision  in  spite  of  her  little 
vanities. 

"  Don't  you  fight  so  blamed  shy !  "  the  man  cried.  "  I 
know  you,  and  want  to  talk  with  you.  You'd  better  con- 
fide in  me.  I  have  influence  with  the  provost  marshal." 

Once  more  he  approached  her,  and  stretched  out  his 
arm.  She  avoided  him,  and  began  to  look  a  little  anxious, 
as  though  she  had  encountered  something  really  serious. 

The  officer  shook  his  head,  and  attempted  to  scratch  it 
with  his  dirty  fingers.  As  no  new  ideas  entered  his  brain 
by  such  means,  he  stopped  working  amongst  his  hair, 
uttered  an  oath  or  two  by  way  of  gaining  fresh  audacity, 
and  then  ran  towards  the  young  lady. 

"  I'll  have  a  kiss,"  he  said,  "  if  it  costs  me  all  my  postal 
currency !  " 

He  threw  his  arms  around  her  waist,  and  made  a  dash 
for  her  lips  ;  but  Miss  Hatty  dodged  her  head  and  uttered 
an  indignant  remonstrance,  at  the  same  time  she  called  for 
help. 

She  did  not  have  to  call  more  than  twice  before  I  was 
alongside,  and  ready  to  grapple  with  her  foe ;  and  I  never 
felt  more  gratified  at  the  prospect  of  a  row  than  I  did  at 
that  moment,  when  Miss  Hatty  was  to  receive  the  benefit 
of  my  strength  and  devotion. 

I  laid  one  hand  on  the  officer's  collar,  and  the  other  in 
the  region  of  his  coat  tail,  and  then  with  a  sudden  jerk  I 
sent  the  fellow  flying  into  the  gutter,  where  he  struck 
with  such  force  that  the  blood  spirted  from  his  nose,  but  he 
had  too  much  liyior  aboard  to  be  deprived  of  his  senses. 


60  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

He  scrambled  to  his  feet  in  a  moment  or  two,  and  then 
came  towards  me,  revolver  in  hand. 

I  don't  know  how  it  happened  :  but,  when  I  had  sent 
the  drunken  fellow  to  the  gutter,  I  put  out  my  arm  and 
placed  it  around  the  waist  of  Miss  Hatty  ;  for  .it  seemed 
to  me  she  was  so  much  agitated  that  she  must  faint. 
But  I  afterwards  found  that  she  was  not  one  of  the  faint- 
ing kind.  Although  somewhat  frightened,  she  did  not 
think  it  necessary  to  lose  her  senses  ;  but,  for  all  that, 
she  did  not  entirely  repudiate  the  support  of  my  arm 
when  I  placed  my  body  as  a  shield  between  herself  and 
the  savage  drunken  officer. 

As  the  ruffian  stood  up,  covering  me  with  his  pistol, 
the  blood  streaming  down  his  nose,  his  hair  in  disorder, 
his  face  bloated  and  flushed  with  passion,  he  did  not  look 
very  inviting,  and  it  struck  me  that  the  present  was  an 
excellent  opportunity  to  utter  a  prayer  or  two,  for  the 
purpose  of  keeping  an  anchor  to  the  windward  in  case 
of  serious  accidents  ;  but  just  at  that  moment  I  could  not 
think  of  a  suitable  one,  and,  if  I  had,  Miss  Hatty  would 
have  interrupted  it,  for  she  made  a  faint  struggle  wheu 
she  saw  that  I  stood  as  a  shield  between  her  and  danger, 
and  exclaimed,  — 

"  O,  no  !  You  must  not.  You  are  too  kind  and  too 
generous.  Let  me  be  exposed,  not  you." 

But  I  could  not  heed  her  remonstrance.  I  thought  at 
the  moment  that  I  would  give  my  life  for  her  own,  so  I 
stood  firm,  at  the  same  time  keeping  my  eyes  on  the 
officer,  expecting  him  to  fire  every  moment. 

"You  have  insulted  a  gentleman!"  the  drunkard 
bellowed.  "  You  shall  pay  for  it.  I'll  shoot  you." 

"  You  had  better  not,"  I  returned  as  calmly  as  I  could. 
"  Think  better  of  it,  and  give  up  the  idea.  Even  in 
Washington  assassination  is  not  common,  so  you  may  be 
punished." 


AN  ENCOUNTER  -A.3,1  WASHINGTON.  —  Page  60. 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  51 

"  Never.  You  have  insulted  me.  Death  to  you  and 
the  young  girl  on  your  arm." 

As  he  spoke,  he  took  aim  and  fired  ;  but,  luckily  for 
Miss  Hatty  and  myself,  most  of  the  officers  who  loafed 
around  Washington  instead  of  being  at  the  front  in  those 
days,  were  more  familiar  with  the  contents  of  black  bottles 
than  those  of  revolvers ;  so,  as  a  matter  of  course,  the 
ball  whistled  within  a  foot  of  my  head,  and  lodged  in  ths 
side  of  a  house. 

When  the  drunkard  discharged  his  revolver  he  was  not 
more  than  two  fathoms  from  me,  so  the  moment  the  shot 
was  fired  I  made  up  my  mind  what  to  do.  I  knew 
if  I  turned  and  ran  a  second  shot  would  follow,  and  per- 
haps wing  me,  while  if  I  advanced  I  might  escape. 

I  resolved  on  the  latter  course  as  the  boldest,  and  the 
one  calculated  to  produce  the  most  effect  on  Miss  Hatty; 
for  I  did  not  want  her  to  think  that  I  was  a  coward,  or 
capable  of  deserting  her  at  the  first  appearance  of  danger. 

I  removed  my  arm  from  the  lady's  waist,  and  then,  with 
a  sudden  rush,  was  within  reach  of  the  man  before  he  had 
time  to  cock  the  pistol  and  take  a  second  shot. 

"  I'll  kill  you  !  "  the  ruffian  said,  and  put  his  thumb 
on  the  cock  of  the  revolver  ;  but,  before  he  had  time  to 
do  more,  I  planted  my  fist  beneath  his  nose,  and  over  he 
went  like  a  dead  man. 

He  did  not  move  after  he  fell,  but  lay  as  though 
stunned  by  the  blow  and  fall ;  but  for  fear  that  he 
should  revive,  and  once  more  make  trouble,  I  took  his 
revolver,  discharged  the  loaded  barrels,  then  threw  the 
weapon  in  the  mud,  and  once  more  joined  Miss  Hatty, 
who  remained  on  the  sidewalk,  seemingly  quite  interested 
in  all  I  did. 

"  Now,  Miss  Blank,"  I  said,  in  as  calm  a  tone  as  I  could 
assume,  "  if  you  will  suffer  me  to  conduct  you  to  your 
hotel,  I  should  be  proud  of  the  honor." 


52  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

She  looked  at  me  with  a  wondering  pair  of  eyes  and  a 
pale  face. 

"  Are  you  sure  that  you  are  not  hurt  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  I  am  quite  certain  on  that  point.  The  fellow  missed 
me.  He  will  not  be  likely  to  use  his  pistol  for  some  time 
to  come." 

"  I  am  so  glad  that  you  are  not  injured,  for  do  you  know 
that  it  was  quite  noble  in  you  to  come  to  my  assistance  in 
such  a  brave  manner  ?  I  don't  believe  that  many  of  the 
young  gentlemen  of  my  acquaintance  would  have  acted  as 
you  have." 

"  Will  you  walk  along  with  me  ?  "  I  asked,  for  a  crowd 
of  loafers  began  to  collect  around  the  officer,  and  the 
usual  amount  of  bickering  and  pocket-picking  commenced, 
while  several  dark  darkies  were  already  seated  on  the 
curbstones  addressing  the  fallen  hero  in  tones  of  comic 
commiseration,  and  I  heard  one  of  them  say,  — 

"  What  for  you  down  thar  for,  wid  yer  nose  all  bunged 
up  ?  Say,  massa  ossifer,  can't  you  talk  ?  " 

And  then  the  companions  of  the  negro  yelled  with 
laughter,  for  they  had  found  something  that  was  lower 
even  than  their  own  social  scale. 

Hatty  laid  her  hand  on  my  arm,  and  I  led  her  away, 
fearing  more  disturbance,  several  military  officers  having 
arrived  on  the  spot,  and  were  evidently  inclined  to  avenge 
the  wrongs  of  the  insensible  man. 

We  did  not  hasten  our  steps,  for  I  scorned  to  run  away, 
and  I  think  that  Miss  Blank  was  equally  as  proud  as 
myself  on  that  point. 

"  I  am  thankful  that  I  was  so  near  as  to  render  you 
some  assistance,"  I  said,  when  we  were  beyond  the  crowd's 
observation. 

"Goodness  knows,  I  am  ever  so  glad  !  "  replied  Misa 
Blank.  "  I  don't  know  what  T  should  have  done  had  you 
not  come  to  my  aid.  The  man  was  drunk,  and  I  cion't 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  53 

like  to  have  a  drunken  man  near  me.  Will  you  let  me 
thank  you  for  what  you  have  done  ?  But  I  will  thank 
you,  whether  you  want  me  to  or  not.  It  was  a  real  brave 
act  on  your  part,  and  but  few  of  my  gentlemen  acquaint- 
ances would  have  done  the  same.  Come,  don't  blush. 
You  didn't  blush  the  first  time  I  saw  you." 

"  Do  you  recollect  the  first  time  I  ever  saw  you  ?  "  I 
asked,  and  stole  a  look  at  her  handsome,  glowing  face. 

"  Of  course  I  do  ;  and  I  thought  you  a  very  impertinent 
man." 

"  For  what  reason  ?  " 

"  Because  you  stared  at  me  in  such  a  rude  manner." 

"  But  it  takes  two  persons,  Miss  Blank,  to  effect  a  stare 
such  as  you  complain  of." 

"  O,  does  it?  Well,  do  you  mean  to  say  that  I  looked 
at  you  in  a  rude  manner?"  and  Miss  Hatty  tossed  her 
head,  and  attempted  to  frown. 

"  Miss  Blank  is  never  rude.     Indeed  she  could  not  be." 

"  Thank  you  for  the  compliment,  sir.*  I  did  not  think 
that  sailors,  with  their  honest  heartiness  andbluffness,  could 
flatter,  but  I  find  that  I  am  mistaken.  I  am  sorry  to  think 
that  I  have  been  laboring  under  such  a  misapprehension." 

I  laughed  at  her  wilful,  playful  ways,  and  grew  more 
confident  as  I  began  to  realize  my  position  and  present 
happiness ;  for  it  was  happiness  to  be  in  her  company,  to 
hear  her  voice,  and  feel  the  pressure  of  her  little  hand  on 
the  sleeve  of  my  coat. 

"  But  tell  me  one  thing,"  I  said.  "  Do  you  forgive  me 
for  offending  you  the  first  time  we  met  ?" 

"  You  did  not  offend  me.  I  noticed  that  you  stared  at 
me  as  though  you  thought  I  was  an  awfully  wild  girl,  and 
I  am  afraid  you  think  so  now." 

"  I  do  not  know  what  I  think,"  I  replied ;  and  it 
seemed  as  though  I  must  pour  out  the  burden  of  my 
heart,  tell  her  that  I  loved  her,  and  would  die  for  her  if  it 


54:  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

would  afford  her  the  least  satisfaction  ;  but,  by  an  effort, 
I  managed  to  prevent  making  a  fool  of  myself,  and  that 
is  something  to  be  wondered  at,  for  a  pretty  girl  can  tarn 
the  head  of  the  most  obdurate  of  men. 

"  Do  not  think  harshly  of  me,  at  all  events,"  she  said. 
"  I  have  my  sober  moments  as  well  as  other  people.  Now, 
to  prove  it,  I  have  a  great  mind  to  tell  you  something." 

"  I  should  be  delighted  to  hear  it.     Do  favor  me." 

"  Well,  I  will.  Just  before  I  was  insulted,  I  was 
thinking  of  you." 

"  Indeed  !  I  am  most  happy  to  hear  it.  Pray,  teii  me 
of  your  thoughts." 

"  I  will ;  but  you  won't  laugh  ?  " 

"No." 

"  Well,  I  was  thinking  that  it  was  very  singular  we 
should  meet  in  Washington  ;  and  I  wondered  if  we  should 
often  see  each  other.  Now  don't  laugh." 

I  did  not  feel  in  the  least  like  smiling  after  such  a 
confession. 

"  And  I,  too,  have  a  secret  to  confide  to  you.  Would 
you  like  to  hear  it?  "  I  asked. 

"  Yes,  indeed  I  should." 

"  Perhaps  you  will  be  offended  with  me  for  being  so 
frank." 

"No,  I  hope  not.  But  I  can't  tell  till  I  hear  what 
it  is." 

"  You  say  that  you  feel  grateful  to  me  ?  " 

"  Yes,  very  grateful." 

I  stole  a  quick  look  at  her  face,  and  saw  that  her  bright 
eyes  were  dimmed  with  tears.  She  was  thinking  of  the 
insults  of  the  drunken  officer. 

"If  such  is  your  feeling,  then  I  have  no  doubt  but  that 
you  will  pardon  me.  I  will  confess  my  crime  in  &  few 
words.  The  day  I  saw  3-011  at  your  father's  office 
dropped  a  photograph  of  yourself." 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  5n 

She  looted  up  with  a  knowing  smile.  She  began  to 
c  mprehend  my  meaning. 

"  That  photograph,"  I  continued,  "  I  picked  up  and 
p'tced  in  my  pocket,  intending  to  keep  it.  Here  it  is. 
What  shall  I  do  with  it?" 

She  just  glanced  at  it,  but  did  not  offer  to  take  it. 

"  It  is  a  horrid  likeness,"  she  said.  "  Somehow  the 
artist  did  not  get  a  good  light,  and  I  had  on  the  most 
unbecoming  dress  that  I  ever  wore.  I  have  always  felt 
ashamed  of  the  picture." 

"  And  you  will  allow  me  to  retain  possession  of  it  ?  " 

"  Why,  yes,  I  suppose  so.  That  is,  if  you  want  it.  I 
would  rather  you  had  a  better  one.  I  don't  see  how  I 
happened  to  drop  it ;  but  I  suppose  that  it  fell  from  my 
card  case.  I  am  sure  I  don't  see  what  you  want  of  such  a 
fright." 

I  placed  the  photograph  in  my  breast  pocket,  and  as  I 
did  so,  I  noticed  a  look  of  satisfaction  on  the  face  of  Miss 
Hatty.  She  was  flattered  by  the  reverence  with  which  I 
treated  her  picture. 

We  walked  on  a  short  distance  in  silence,  and  then  Miss 
Hatty  suddenly  looked  up,  and  withdrew  her  hand  from 
my  arm. 

"  O  I  "  she  cried,  "  here  is  papa.  He  has  come  to  look 
for  me." 

Mr.  Blank  had  waited  at  his  hotel  some  time  for  the 
return  of  his  daughter,  but  as  she  had  not  arrived  as 
early  as  he  expected  he  had  started  out  to  find  her,  feel- 
ing a  little  uneasy  at  her  absence." 

"  O,  papa!"  Miss  Hatty  cried,  starting  forward,  and 
clasping  his  arm,  "  such  an  adventure  !  I  am  sure  I  am 
almost  frightened  out  of  my  wits,  and  should  have  died 
if  it  had  not  been  for  Captain  Constant.  He  saved  me, 
papa  !  indeed  he  did." 

"  How  ?    What  is  the  meaning  of  all  this  ?  "  asked  Mr 


66  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

Blank,  who  began  to  tremble,  fearing  that  something 
serious  had  happened. 

Miss  Hatty,  like  all  young  ladies  under  similar  circum- 
stances, commenced  shedding  tears,  and  those  only  added 
to  her  father's  perplexity. 

He  looked  at  his  daughter,  and  then  at  me. 

"  Who  has  dared  ?  "  he  asked,  and  then  stopped. 

"Explain  this  matter,  sir,"  he  said,  as  though  I  was  the 
culprit,  and  had  presumed  to  offend  the  only  daughter  of 
the  rich  Boston  merchant.  • 

"  O,  he  is  not  the  one,"  sobbed  the  young  lady.  "  He 
would  have  given  his  life  for  mine  ;  he  is  all  that  is  brave, 
noble,  and  generous." 

"Brave,  noble,  generous?  What  in  thunder  does  this 
mean?" 

By  this  time  the  usual  Washington  crowd  commenced 
gathering  around  us,  and  one  pickpocket,  more  bold  than 
the  rest,  made  a  dash  for  Mr.  Blank's  watch ;  but  the 
timekeeper  was  secured  by  a  secret  guard,  so  the  attempt 
failed,  and  the  fellow  retired,  and  allowed  some  other 
expert  to  make  a  trial. 

Just  then  a  carriage  passed  us.  I  hailed  the  driver,  and 
engaged  him  to  take  us  to  the  hotel  where  Mr.  Blank  was 
stopping. 

When  the  coachman  slammed  to  the  door,  and  drove 
along  the  avenue,  Mr.  Blank  said,  — 

"  Now,  pet,  dry  your  tears,  and  tell  me  all  that  has 
transpired.  Let  me  know  what  has  happened  from  your 
own  lips.  Who  has  dared  to  insult  a  daughter  of  mine  ?  " 

I  interrupted  him,  and  said  that  I  would  give  him  a  full 
account  of  all  that  had  happened,  but  the  offer  was  not 
accepted. 

"  No,  sir  ;  let  my  daughter  tell  me  all  that  she  recollects 
of  the  matter.  Come,  darling,  don't  be  frightened.  I 
am  here  to  protect  you." 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  67 

Thus  encouraged,  Miss  Hatty  related  all  that  had 
passed,  —  how  the  officer  had  insulted  hereby  putting  his 
arms  around  her  waist,  and  offering  to  kiss  her  ;  and  how 
I  had  come  to  her  rescue,  and  saved  her,  although  I  had 
endangered  my  life  in  so  doing. 

Her  father  listened  in  patience  to  all  that  she  told  him, 
and  when  she  had  concluded,  he  kissed  her,  and  congratu- 
lated her  on  her  narrow  escape  ;  but  not  one  word  did  he 
think  of  addressing  to  me  until  his  daughter  reminded  him 
that  I  deserved  her  thanks,  .and  the  thanks  of  all  her 
relatives. 

"  O,  yes !  I  nearly  forgot  that,  Captain  Constant. 
Allow  me  to  thank  you  for  what  you  have  done.  It  is 
just  what  I  should  have  expected  of  you.  Hatty,  my 
dear,  have  you  thanked  the  captain  ?  " 

44  O,  yes,  papa  !  some  time  since.  I  did  not  wait  to  be 
told." 

"  Ah  !  quite  proper  and  right.     But  you  don't  under- 
stand these  things  like  men.     We  have  a  more  uncere- 
monious method  of  doing  business  than  you  women.     Ah, 
•^re  we  are  at  the  hotel.     Will  you  go  in  with  us,  captain  ?  " 

He  asked  the  question  in  .so  indifferent  a  tone  that  I  was 
indignant. 

"  If  he  can't  treat  me  with  some  show  of  politeness,"  I 
thought,  "  I  will  spare  him  the  annoyance  of  my  company. 
At  least  he  might  be  grateful  and  courteous  at  the  same 
time." 

But  it  was  not  in  the  man's  nature  to  be  courteous  to  •• 
person  of  my  station  in  life.  What  I  had  done  he  regarded 
as  perfectly  proper,  and  he  would  have  blamed  any  of  hi» 
employees  who  had  declined  the  same  kind  of  service 
In  fact,  if  a  man  lost  his  life  while  serving  Mr.  Blank,  it  wa» 
not  regarded  as  a  serious  matter,  but  a  just  tribute  to  the 
virtues  of  Mr.  Blank's  position  that  had  been  built  up  with 
gold,  and  hedged  in  with  exclusiveness. 


58  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  Won't  you  come  in  with  us  ?  "  asked  Hatty,  who 
noted  the  manner  in  which  I  had  received  the  invitation 
from  her  father. 

We  were  standing  on  the  sidewalk  in  front  of  the  hotel 
at  which  Mr.  Blank  was  stopping. 

Her  father  had  turned  his  back,  and  was  about  to  enter 
the  hotel  without  another  word ;  but  when  he  heard  his 
daughter's  invitation,  he  stopped,  turned  half  round,  and 
awaited  the  result  of  the  request.  He  did  not  join  her  in 
making  it ;  he  thought  that  he  had  performed  his  duty  in 
speaking  as  he  had. 

"  I  have  business  that  will  prevent  me  from  accepting 
your  kind  invitation." 

"  Won't  you  come  in  for  a  moment  ?  " 

I  shook  my  head.  With  a  woman's  quick  perception, 
she  saw  what  was  the  matter,  and  was  anxious  to  make 
amends  for  her  father's  rudeness.  I  appreciated  her 
motives,  but  at  the  same  time  would  not  violate  the  reso- 
lution which  I  had  formed  not  to  force  myself  into  the 
society  of  Mr.  Blank. 

As  Miss  Hatty  spoke,  Mr.  Blank  manifested  symptoms 
of  impatience. 

"  Come,  child,  come  !  "  he  said.  "  Don't  loiter  on  the 
sidewalk." 

"  I  shall  see  you  again  before  you  leave  Washington  ?  " 
Miss  Hatty  asked. 

"  I  think  not.     My  business  is  pressing." 

She  looked  grieved  for  a  moment,  and  an  impatient 
command  from  her  father  cut  short  all  discussion.  She 
held  out  her  hand. 

"  Good  by  until  I  see  you  again.  I  shall  never,  never  for- 
get the  service  you  have  rendered  me.  Be  assured  of  that." 

For  one  moment  I  held  her  hand.  Then  she  withdrew 
it,  and  turned  away  ;  but  there  was  a  look  in  her  eyes 
that  was  eloquent  of  feeling  and  gratitude. 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  59 

She  put  her  hand  on  her  father's  arm,  and  together 
they  entered  the  hotel,  Mr.  Blank  looking  neither  to  the 
right  nor  left. 

I  caught  one  last  glimpse  of  the  lady's  face,  and  then, 
with  a  sigh,  moved  in  the  direction  of  my  hotel. 

The  day  and  night  passed,  and,  punctual  to  the  minute, 
I  presented  myself  before  Mr.  Welles  and  Captain  Fox 
at  the  Navy  Department. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Navy  was  very  deep  in  thought, 
and  his  fingers  were  lost  in  the  tangled  locks  of  his  beard 
when  I  entered  the  apartment  which  was  used  as  his 
private  office ;  while  Captain  Fox  was  examining  the 
model  of  a  double-ender,  pondering  over  it  as  though 
he  was  endeavoring  to  convince  himself  that  a  steamer, 
built  after  the  pattern  before  him,  could  move  as  fast 
through  the  water  while  going  one  way  as  another. 

Both  gentlemen  looked  up  as  I  entered  the  room,  and 
both  of  them  left  their  occupations  to  attend  to  my  business. 

"  You  are  punctual,"  said  the  Secretary.  "  This  looks 
well  for  the  future." 

I  bowed,  and  accepted  the  chair  that  the  Secretary 
pointed  to. 

"  Captain  Fox,  is  Mr.  Constant's  commission  made  out  ?  " 
Mr.  Welles  asked. 

Captain  Fox  said  that  such  things  were  never  forgotten 
at  the  department,  and  as  proof  of  his  words  selected  a 
parchment  from  the  midst  of  a  hundred  others,  and  handed 
it  to  Mr.  Welles. 

"You  accept  the  commission  of  lieutenant,  do  you  ?" 
asked  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  after  a  glance  over  the 
document. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Then  take  it.  Now  I  shall  order  you  to  perform 
the  duty  that  I  spoke  to  you  about  yesterday.  You  recol- 
lect it  ?  " 


60  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  And  have  you  thought  of  the  matter  ?  Have  you 
weighed  the  whole  affair  in  your  mind?  " 

"  Yes,  sir ;  I  have  considered  all  the  dangers  and  the 
hardships." 

"  They  shall  be  paid  for  out  of  the  secret-service  fund ; 
and  in  addition  to  the  regular  salary  of  a  lieutenant 
This  is  something  that  I  should  not  offer  to  every  one  ;  but 
I  have  taken  a  fancy  to  you,  and  think  that  —  " 

"  He's  just  the  man  for  the  place,"  interrupted  Captain 
Fox,  who  saw  that  his  chief  was  hesitating  for  a  word. 

"  Precisely  :  just  so.  The  man  for  the  place.  That's  it- 
There  are  but  few  in  whom  we  would  put  so  much  trust ; 
the  business  is  so  peculiar." 

"  Requiring  so  much  tact  and  self-possession,"  hinted 
the  captain. 

"  All  that  you  can  summon,"  continued  the  Secretary. 
"  But  now  for  the  final  instructions.  Captain  Fox,  you 
have  given  some  attention  to  the  subject.  Explain 
all  that  is  necessary  to  Lieutenant  Constant  —  the 
secret  signals,  and  all ;  "  and  then  Mr.  Welles  t?irned 
me  over  to  his  subordinate,  and  plunged  into  a  mass  of 
correspondence. 

Jt  is  not  necessary  that  I  should  enlighten  the  world 
relative  to  my  instructions,  the  signals  which  I  were  to 
make  if  I  had  an  opportunity,  the  signals  which  I  were  to 
recognize  when  I  encountered  one  of  our  gunboats,  the 
commanders  of  our  national  ships,  the  American  consuls 
at  all  ports  where  blockade  runners  congregated,  and 
nearly  all  persons  who  were  engaged  in  the  same  business 
as  myself;  and  it  was  intimated  that  I  should  meet  several 
of  them  on  land,  on  shipboard,  and  in  the  queerest  of 
places. 

"  Understand  me  distinctly,"  said  Captain  Fox.  "  The 
commanders  of  our  national  ships  alone  have  the  key  to 


RUNNING  THE;  BLOCKADE.  61 

the  signals  which  I  have  imparted  to  you.  No  other  person 
on  board  knows  anything  about  them.  Our  captains  are 
instructed,  that  if  their  ships  are  in  danger  of  capture,  the 
signal-books  must  be  destroyed  at  all  hazards,  even  at  the 
sacrifice  of  life  ;  so  you  see  that  your  secret  is  secure.  The 
consuls  keep  their  secret  instructions  locked  up  in  their 
safes ;  and  as  they  are  burglar  proof,  there  is  no  fear  of 
their  being  stolen.  Now  let  me  see  if  you  can  go  through 
with  all  the  minute  instructions  which  I  have  imparted  to 
you.  It  is  necessary  that  you  should  commit  all  to  mem- 
ory, for  we  don't  dare  trust  papers  to  men  who  are  com- 
pelled to  play  such  hazardous  parts." 

I  have  a  most  retentive  memory,  and  can  learn  quick. 
I  caught  the  spirit  of  his  meaning  at  once,  and  was  en- 
abled to  repeat  all  the  signals  ;  the  grip  of  hands,  the 
position  of  the  head,  even  the  wearing  of  the  hat,  cap,  or 
clothes,  was  significant  of  something  connected  witli  secret 
service ;  and  all  were  so  well  arranged,  so  entirely  unsus- 
picious, that  no  one  could  have  detected,  unless  initiated, 
that  men  were  working  in  common  for  some  great  purpose. 

For  nearly  two  hours  did  I  go  over  the  lessons  with 
.  Captain  Fox ;  and  at  the  end  of  that  tune  he  said  I  was 
text-perfect,  and  congratulated  me  on  my  retentive  mem- 
ory, which  he  thought  promised  great  results. 

"  And  now,  one  word,"  he  said,  as  he  arose  to  intimate 
that  our  interview  was  about  to  close ;  "  you  are  to  em- 
bark on  the  most  dangerous  business  that  the  department 
can  send  you  to  look  after.  A  word,  a  glance,  or  even  a 
suspicion,  will  be  enough  to  end  your  days  with  a  rope 
around  your  neck,  or  a  toss  overboard  some  dark  night 
Now  1  think  we  understand  each  other." 

"  I  ana  positive  that  we  do." 

"Well,  such. being  the  case,  you  must  get  away  as 
sooii  as  possible.  An  English  steamer  leaves  New  York 
for  Nassau  in  the  course  of  a  few  days.  On  board  that 


62  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

steamer  you  must  embark,  either  as  a  sailor,  working  your 
way  before  the  mast,  or  as  a  rabid  secessionist,  anxious  to 
aid  the  South,  and  despising  the  North.  But  you  must 
not  overdo  the  thing ;  and  above  all,  remember  that  the 
Southern  gentleman  always  detests  one  who  agrees  with 
him  in  all  things.  You  have  a  peculiar  part  to  play,  but 
I  think  that  I  can  trust  to  you  to  enact  the  rdle  I  have 
marked  out.  Of  course  you  are  acquainted  with  parties 
at  the  South,  so  that  if  necessary  you  can  mention  their 
names?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  And  are  familiar  with  some  town,  so  that  you  can  hail 
from  the  place  in  case  it  is  necessary  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  Then  you  are  all  right.  After  you  reach  New  York, 
you  can  decide  whether  you  go  to  Nassau  as  a  sailor  or 
sympathizer.  If  the  latter,  call  on  the  collector  of  the 
port,  and  he  will  furnish  you  with  money  for  your  passage. 
Now  take  leave  of  Mr.  Welles,  and  then  you  can  go." 

Mr.  Welles  was  reading  a  letter  and  combing  out  his 
beard  when  we  ventured  to  disturb  him.  He  extended 
his  hand,  gave  me  an  anxious  glance,  and  asked,  — 

"  Does  Lieutenant  Constant  know  all  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  I  have  given  him  full  directions,"  answered  Cap- 
tain Fox. 

"  And  he  agrees  to  all  the  proposals  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  without  the  least  reservation." 

"  Then  he  will  be  successful.  Mark  my  words,  Captain 
Fox :  Lieutenant  Constant  will  give  a  good  account  of 
himself.  Farewell,  sir ; "  and  Mr.  Welles  resumed  his 
paper  and  beard  at  the  same  time. 

I  left  the  Navy  Department,  and  then  thought  of  my 
promise  to  the  President,  and  concluded  that  I  would  call 
on  him,  and  bid  him  farewell. 

No  sooner  was  the  thought  formed  than  I  determined  to 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  63 

execute  it.  I  walked  slowly  along  Pennsylvania  Avenue, 
thinking  of  Miss  Blank,  and  wishing  I  could  obtain  another 
glimpse  of  her  sweet  face  without  seeking  her  at  the  hotel, 
and  wondering  if  she  had  given  me  a  thought  since  we 
parted  the  day  before,  when  who  should  I  encounter  but 
the  drunken  fellow  who  had  insulted  Miss  Hatty.  He 
was  in  company  with  a  brother  officer ;  and  as  they  were 
near  me,  and  talking  in  rather  a  loud  tone  of  voice,  I  could 
hear  all  that  passed  between  them. 

"  I  tell  you  what  it  is,"  said  the  fellow  who  bore  the 
marks  of  punishment,  "  if  I  could  find  him,  I'd  skin  him." 

"  And  yet  you  say  you  insulted  the  girl  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  but  I  was  drunk  and  didn't  know  what  I  was 
doing;  besides  I  didn't  think  —  " 

"  Never  mind  what  you  thought.  Now  you  had 
better  let  the  matter  drop,  because,  if  you  don't,  it  may 
turn  oat  that  the  girl  is  the  wife  or  daughter  of  one  of 
our  Congressmen,  and  then  you  can  judge  where  you 
would  be.  I  tell  you,  they'd  strip  the  bars  off  your  shoul- 
ders in  no  time." 

Just  at  this  instant  I  was  close  alongside  of  the  speaker, 
and  looked  him  full  in  the  face.  He  knew  me  in  an  in- 
stant, for  he  was  not  so  drunk  the  day  before  but  that  he 
could  recollect. 

"By  Heaven,  there  is  the  man!"  cried  the-  military 
genius,  clutching  the  arm  of  his  judicious  adviser. 

"  Well,  all  that  I  can  say  is,  that  he  has  a  smart  look," 
replied  the  latter  ;  "  so  let  him  alone." 

But  this  advice  was  unheeded.  My  antagonist  broke 
away  from  the  restraint  imposed  upon  him,  and  came 
towards  me. 

"  Sir,'1  he  asked,  "  did  you,  or  did  you  not,  strike  me 
yesterday?" 

"  Yes.  for  insulting  a  lady ;  and,  if  you  should  repeat 
such  con-iuct  while  I  was  near,  I  should  repeat  the  dose 
that  was  administered." 


6i  RUNNING   THE  BLOCKADE. 


**  You  h'dve  insulted  me,  and  I  will  have  satisfaction. 
Who  are  you  ?  Give  me  your  card." 

"  What  kind  of  satisfaction  do  you  require  ?  " 

"  An  exchange  of  shots." 

"  Well,  you  owe  me  one.  Recollect  that  you  fired  at 
me  yesterday  ;  so  stand  off  six  paces,  that  I  can  have  a  fair 
chance.  I  know  that  I  can  hit  you." 

"  Would  you  murder  me  ?  "  demanded  the  fellow. 

"No;  but  you  attempted  to  murder  me.  I  mean  to 
wing  you  so  that  you  will  no  longer  disgrace  the  army.  I 
will  shatter  a  leg  or  arm,  whichever  you  prefer." 

"  I  want  a  fair  exchange  of  shots  :  that  is  all  I  desire," 
remarked  the  officer.  "  Will  you  grant  me  my  request  ?  " 

"  Why,  you  want  all  the  advantage.  You  have  had 
one  shot,  and  now  you  want  another  —  two  to  my  one. 
Don't  you  see  the  injustice  of  such  a  request  ?  Come,  be 
reasonable,  and  let  us  settle  this  matter  in  a  fair  way.  I'll 
fire  at  you  ;  and  then,  if  I  don't  maim  you,  you  can  have 
another  turn,  on  an  equal  footing." 

"  I  won't  fight  in  that  manner." 

"  I  hope  that  you  are  talking  of  fighting  the  enemies  of 
your  country,"  said  a  calm,  cheerful  voice  at  my  elbow. 

I  turned,  and  saw  that  President  Lincoln  had  approached 
us  unperceived.  How  much  of  the  conversation  he  had 
heard  I  was  unable  to  determine,  for  I  could  tell  nothing 
by  his  face. 

The  two  army  officers  took  off  their  caps,  and  bowed 
most  profoundly,  while  the  President  laid  his  hand  on  my 
shoulder,  and  asked,  — 

"  What  is  the  meaning  of  this,  Constant?  " 

"  O,  these  gentlemen  and  myself  were  having  a  little 
fun  owing  to  something  that  happened  yesterday." 

"  Yes  ;  I  have  heard  of  the  affair.  Blank  told  me  about 
it  last  night.  I  saw  him  at  Seward's  ;  I  knew  that  I  had 
not  misjudged  vou.  I  can  generally  tell  what  a  man  is  by 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  65 

the  look  of  his  face.  You  are  as  ready  to  fight  for  a  lady 
as  your  country." 

"  I  did  what  honor  commanded  me  to  do,"  I  remarked. 

"  And  honor  in  that  instance  was  a  good  prompter ;  but 
it  is  not  at  the  present  time.  Come  with  me.  I  want  to 
speak  with  you." 

As  I  turned  to  follow  him,  he  addressed  my  late  ad- 
versary, — 

"  Go  to  your  regiment,  and  report  yourself  under  arrest 
for  creating  a  disturbance  in  the  street,  and  for  drunken- 
ness. I  will  see  that  you  have  justice." 

The  military  officer  marched  off  with  a  halting  step, 
while  his  companion  took  an  opposite  course,  and  seemed 
to  feel  thankful^  that  he  had  escaped  some  kind  of  punish- 
ment. 

"  Constant,"  said  the  President,  as  we  walked  along, 
"  you  did  a  good  thing  yesterday  when  you  protected  that 
girl.  She  will  recollect  you  for  it.  I  know  that  she  will, 
by  the  way  her  eyes  sparkled  last  night  when  she  told  me 
how  you  managed.  Good-looking,  isn't  she  ?  Will  make 
some  man  happy." 

I  sighed  when  I  thought  that  such  might  be  the  case. 

"  I  don't  know  that  you  have  told  your  love,"  continued 
the  President,  with  a  laugh,  "  or  whether  you  have  let  it 
lie  concealed  in  your  damask  cheek.  But  my  opinion  is, 
go  in,  and  win  glory  and  lots  of  prize  money.  Those 
things  will  tell,  if  they  are  backed  by  devotion  and  good 
looks." 

"  Yes ;  but  how  can  I  win  glory  by  acting  the  part  that 
[  must  act?  " 

"  By  serving  your  country.  It  is  not  the  station,  nor 
the  duties,  but  the  zeal  that  proves  a  man's  patriotism. 
Do  your  duty  where  fate  or  chance  may  cast  you,  and 
you  will  find  that  your  own  conscience  will  approve  ;  and 
that  is  glory  enough  for  most  any  man." 


66  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  But  not  enough  to  win  the  heart  of  a  handsome,  ro- 
mantic girl,"  I  remarked  in  a  sad  tone. 

"  I  tell  you  what,"  cried  the  President,  "  ;f  a  m?.n  makes 
love  to  a  girl,  and  that  love  is  rather  acceptable  than 
otherwise,  she  won't  look  for  glaring  deeds.  Now,  I  once 
courted  a  girl  in  Illinois,  when  I  studied  for  the  bar,  and 
she  told  me  that  I  could  never  make  a  show  in  the  world, 
because  I  wasn't  a  rising  man.  I  was  not  so  tall  then  as 
I  am  now.  In  fact,  I  thought  I  was  running  to  seed ;  but 
I  sprouted  after  a  while,  and  here  I  am  as  high  as  any  of 
them." 

Of  course  I  thanked  the  President  for  his  kind  advice, 
and  then  pleaded  an  engagement,  and  was  let  off  with 
good  wishes  for  my  success,  and  a  hearty  shake  of  the 
hand.  That  was  the  last  I  saw  of  President  Lincoln  for 
some  months. 

In  due  time  I  arrived  in  New  York,  and  made  inquiries 
respecting  the  sailing  of  a  steamer  for  Nassau.  I  soon 
found  that  I  had  several  days  to  spare,  so  concluded  to  run 
on  to  Boston,  and  settle  up  some  little  affairs  I  had  left 
undisposed  of ;  and  this  done,  I  returned  to  New  York, 
and  commenced  working  in  earnest 

Remembering  what  Captain  Fox  had  told  me  about  con- 
sulting with  the  collector  of  the  port  of  New  York,  and 
obtaining  some  hints  respecting  my  future  conduct,  I  de- 
termined to  call  and  sec  him  ;  so  about  eleven  o'clock  I 
started  for  the  custom-house. 

It  was  a  long  time  before  I  could  obtain  an  audience, 
and  1  did  not  succeed  until  I  had  written  my  name  on  a 
slip  of  paper,  and  then  just  beneath  the  signature  drew  a 
few  flourishes,  which  no  one  would  have  noticed,  and  yet 
they  were  very  significant  to  the  initiated.  It  was  a  stroke 
of  secret-service  diplomacy  that  Captain  Fox  had  taught 
me  to  use  when  an  important  interview  was  to  be  obtained 
with  some  member  of  the  government  who  did  not  wish  to 
be  annoyed  with  bores. 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  07 

No  sooner  did  the  collector  receive  my  name  as  it  was 
written,  than  a  change  took  place  in  his  disposition.  He 
gave  such  imperative  orders  that  I  should  be  admitted 
immediately,  that  all  the  clerks  in  hearing  thought  I  was 
to  have  an  office  in  the  custom-house. 

The  usher  bade  me  follow  him,  and  then  I  was  intro- 
duced into  the  presence  of  the  great  man. 

He  was  seated  at  his  desk,  and  near  him  were  some 
dozen  or  twenty  people  —  some  writing,  and  some  talking. 

The  collector  looked  at  me  with  a  keen  glance,  and* 
made  an  almost  imperceptible  sign.     In  an  instant  I  had 
answered  it,  and  then  gave  the  sign  that  followed  recog- 
nition.    It  was  returned.     The  collector  rose,  and  extend- 
ed his  hand.    I  gave  him  the  grip  that  he  was  expecting. 

"  You  want  to  see  me  on  particular  business  ? "  he 
asked. 

"  Yes ;  I  should  like  a  moment's  conversation  with  you." 

He  led  the  way  to  a  private  room,  and  then  closed  and 
locked  the  door. 

"  Now,  sir,"  he  answered,  "  I  am  ready  to  hear  all  that 
you  have  to  offer.  I  find  that  you  are  on  secret  service." 

I  then  informed  him  of  my  errand,  and  for  a  moment 
the  collector  pondered.  At  last  he  took  from  a  safe  a 
thick  book,  looked  over  its  pages,  read  for  a  moment,  and 
then  said,  — 

"  You  must  leave  in  the  English  steamer  that  sails  to- 
morrow. If  you  engage  a  passage,  you  will  be  looked 
upon  with  suspicion  ;  for  no  less  than  a  dozen  sympathiz- 
ers start  for  Nassau  in  the  vessel.  Do  you  think  that  you 
can  hold  your  own  in  boasting  of  the  resources  of  the 
South?" 

"  I  can  try." 

"  Yes;  but  you  must  be  careful,  and  keep  within  bounds. 
If  you  ship  as  a  common  seaman,  there  will  be  but  little 
chance  of  your  learning  secret  movements.  Yes ;  my 


68  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

advice  is,  that  you  engage  passage,  give  out  that  you  be 
long  to  some  Southern  town  where  there  are  but  few 
inhabitants,  or  else  to  some  city  where  there  are  many. 
You  can  judge  which  is  best." 

"  I  shall  be  prepared  for  that  point,"  I  answered.  "  I 
have  already  determined  what  to  do." 

We  shook  hands  and  parted,  but  my  pockets  were  heavy 
with  the  weight  of  gold  I  carried  away. 

During  the  day  I  engaged  passage  on  the  Dragon,  and 
was  told  to  be  on  board  at  nine  o'clock,  sharp,  for  delays 
were  not  submitted  to. 

The  next  morning  at  eight  I  was  landed  on  the  steam- 
er's deck,  —  an  independent  Southern  gentleman,  who 
had  seen  something  of  sea  life,  and  wanted  to  see  more 

On  the  quarter-deck  I  found  a  dozen  or  two  serious- 
looking  people  — most  of  them  dark  and  bilious,  all  ner- 
vous, all  suspicious  of  each  other.  Those  who  came  on 
board  were  glared  at,  and  all  who  were  glared  at  returned 
the  glances  with  interest. 

I  underwent  the  general  scrutiny  with  perfect  compo- 
sure ;  and  so  well  did  I  perform  my  part,  that  a  lady,  who 
was  seated  near  a  tall,  white-headed  man,  who  seemed  to 
be  in  feeble  health,  —  for  he  moved  with  great  difficulty, 
and  only  with  the  aid  of  a  cane,  —  remarked  loud  enough 
for  me  to  hear,  — 

"I  know  he  ain't  a  Yankee." 

•  "  Now,"  I  thought,  "  is  the  chance  to  make  a  *  ten-strike.' 
I  shall  never  have  a  better  opportunity." 

In  an  instant  I  had  turned  towards  the  lady  and  hei 
white-headed,  feeble  companion,  and,  raising  my  hat, 
said,  — 

"  No ;  I  thank  God  no  Yankee  blood  runs  in  my 
veins!  " 

The  old  gentleman  with  the  cane  made  a  desperate  at- 
tempt to  gain  his  feet,  while  the  lady  sought  to  check  him. 


RUNNING  THE    BLOCKADE.  69 

*«  I  will,  child  !  I  will !  "  he  said.  "  Don't  attempt  to 
restrain  me.  I  must  shake  hands  with  a  gentleman  who 
boasts  that  he  has  no  Yankee  blood  in  his  veins." 

"  But  consider  the  consequences,  papa.  Do  be  calm  and 
quiet,  at  least  until  we  are  at  sea.  When  we  are  once 
upon  the  blue  water,  you  can  open  your  mouth,  and  give 
vent  to  the  indignation  that  stirs  your  heart.  But  now, 
within  sight  of  Fort  Lafayette,  it  is  dangerous." 

"  I  have  seen  too  many  dangers,  and  faced  too  many, 
during  the  past  two  years,  to  tremble  at  the  sight  of  a 
fort.  A  colonel  in  the  confed — " 

His  daughter  uttered  a  little  shriek,  threw  her  arms 
around  the  old  gentleman's  neck,  and  placed  a  little  hand 
on  his  lips. 

"  O,  papa  !  would  you  ruin  all  with  your  Southern  im- 
petuosity? " 

I  managed  to  smile,  as  I  said,  — 

"  Colonel,  it  is  for  me  to  ask  the  favor  of  shaking  hands 
with  you.  It  is  an  honor  that  I  desire.  Keep  your  seat, 
sir,  for  I  notice  that  you  are  feeble." 

The  colonel  had  attempted  to  rise  when  I  extended  my 
hand,  but  I  prevented  him. 

At  any  rate,  we  shook  hands  in  the  presence  of  the  pas- 
sengers —  a  scene  that  was  regarded  with  much  interest 
by  them  ;  but  not  a  word  was  uttered  by  those  who  were 
looking  on. 

The  colonel  seemed  pleased  with  my  politeness  and  at- 
tention. He  motioned  to  a  seat  by  his  side,  and  made  me 
sit  dovn  ;  while  his  daughter,  a  dark  brunette,  with  splen- 
did eyes,  full  of  fire  and  mischief,  flashed  a  smile  on  me 
that  was  intended  to  thank  me  for  my  attention  to  her 
parent's  whims.  She  was  a  beautiful  woman  —  a  type  of 
Southern  loveliness ;  just  such  a  girl  as  would  turn  the 
heads  of  mankind. 

"  Allow  me  to  introduce  myself,"  said  the  colonel,  as  I 


70  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

took  a  seat  by  his  side,  while  a  grim  smile  passed  over  his 
face.  "My  name  is  Alfa  Rhett,  Colonel  of  the  Second 
Virginia  Cavalry.  We  did  good  service  at  the  battle  of 
Bull  Run.  Some  of  my  black-horse  cavalry  struck  terroi 
to  the  hearts  of  the  Yankees  on  that- day.  Gods  !  how 
we  cut  them  up !  To  the  right  and  left,  on  all  sides,  we 
charged  on  them.  I  won  my  eagles  on  that  glorious  day." 

"You  old  scoundrel!"  I  thought,  "I  should  like  to 
pitch  you  overboard.  You  deserve  hanging  and  drown- 
ing at  the  same  time." 

"This  is  my  daughter,"  the  colonel  said,  pointing  to 
the  young  lady  who  sat  by  his  side ;  "  Miss  Magnolia 
Rhett,  sir  ;  and  although  I  have  no  desire  to  boast,  yet  I 
will  say  that  we  belong  to  the  first  families  of  Virginia. 
The  name  of  Rhett  is  old,  sir.  There  are  several  branches 
of  the  family  in  Virginia  and  South  Carolina.  I  belong 
to  the  Gordonsville  branch." 

"  I  suppose,  colonel,"  I  said,  "  that  you  would  like, 
after  your  confidence,  to  learn  a  little  of  my  history?  " 

"  If  you  please,  sir." 

The  young  lady  smiled  encouragingly,  and  seemed  pre- 
pared to  give  her  very  best  attention. 

"  I  cannot  boast  of  belonging  to  the  first  families  of  the 
South,"  I  said  ;  "  but  all  of  my  relatives  are  respectable, 
I  believe,  and  most  of  them  own  a  few  niggers.  I'm  a 
South  Carolinian,  and  belong  in  Charleston." 

"  Give  me  your  hand  once  more  !  "  cried  the  impetuous 
colonel.  "  I  honor  the  people  of  South  Carolina.  They 
were  the  first  to  see  the  clanger  in  which  we  were  falling, 
and  they  were  the  first  to  dissolve  the  Union.  Glorious 
old  South  Carolina!  how  I  honor  you  !  " 

"South  Carolina  be  hanged}"  some  one  said.  "She's 
all  bluster  and  fuss,  like  a  barking  dog." 

I  turned  and  saw  a  pock-marked  man,  with  a  shaggy 
coat  and  rough  wide-awake  hat,  standing  near  us.  He 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  71 

had  overheard  our  conversation,  and  was  now  ready  to 
take  part  in  it. 

The  traducer  of  South  Carolina  noticed  our  looks  of  sur- 
prise and  indignation,  but  still  did  not  seem  in  the  least 
disconcerted.  He  returned  our  stare  with  interest,  as  he 
said,  — 

"  If  it  hadn't  bin  for  the  whinin',  and  kickin',  and 
grumblin',  and  groanin',  of  that  same  South  Carolina,  the 
Union  would  have  bin  all  right  at  this  blessed  minit ;  and 
all  the  brave  fellers  what  has  fallen,  and  is  now  under  the 
turf,  would  now  be  alive,  drinkin'  their  reg'lar  drink  of 
whiskey,  and  smokin'  their  reg'lar  smokes,  like  the  rest 
of  us." 

"  Keep  cool,  my  young  friend,"  said  the  colonel,  when 
he  saw  that  I  was  inclined  to  answer  the  pock-marked  man, 
and  defend  the  State  that  I  had  just  claimed  for  my 
nativity.  "  Let  me  answer  him.  Magnolia,  you  remain 
quiet." 

It  was  well  that  he  spoke  to  the  young  lady,  for  she 
manifested  a  Southern  girl's  desire  to  make  a  quarrel  out 
of  the  matter.  Her  lips  were  curled  with  the  most  per- 
fect contempt  for  the  opinion  and  matter-of-fact  words  of 
the  pock-marked  individual. 

"  O  I  let  the  gal  talk,"  said  the  stranger.  "  I  likes  to 
hear  a  handsome  gal  talk.  They  can't  make  me  mad,  if 
they  tries  ever  so  hard.  Young  ladies  like  this  one  has 
fired  the  Southern  heart  all  along,  and  done  lots  of  mis- 
chief. Shucks  !  it  would  have  been  better  if  they  had 
held  their  tongues,  or  else  went  in  for  the  good  old 
Union." 

"  Stranger,"  said  the  colonel,  "  you  are  not  a  Southern 
man." 

"Yes,  I  be.  I'm  a  Kentucky  man  —  from  Louisville. 
Isaac  Bowmount  is  my  name." 

Ma !  Kentucky  has  not  done  much  for  onr  cause," 


72  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

marraured  the  colonel's  daughter  ;  and  I  thought  that  her 
eye»  flashed  fire  at  the  thought. 

"  She's  done  a  shucks  sight  inore'n  she  ought  to  do," 
growled  Mr.  Bowmount,  whose  truthfulness  and  frankness 
I  began  to  like,  although  I  knew  that  it  would  not  do  tc 
acknowledge  it. 

"Stranger,"  the  colonel  remarked,  "you  have  nevel 
struck  a  blow  for  our  independence.  If  you  had,  you'd 
hate  the  Yankees  as  bad  as  I  do." 

"  That  don't  foller,"  said  the  Kentuckian.  "  I  reckon 
I  has  seen  some  fightin' ;  I  was  at  the  battle  of  Bull  Run, 
I  was  at  Donelson,  and  half  a  dozen  other  places,  where  I 
commanded  a  regiment  of  as  stout  men  as  Old  Kentuck 
could  muster ;  but,  for  all  that,  I  can't  say  that  I  like 
fightin'  the  Yanks." 

"  Fighting  I  "  repeated  Miss  Rhett,  with  scorn  in  her 
voice  and  eyes :  "  they  never  yet  stood  firm  enough  to 
fight." 

"  It  strikes  me  that  you  is  wrong,  miss,"  returned  the 
Kentuckian.  "  They  held  us  a  tough  one  at  Bull  Run, 
and  they  gave  us  shucks  at  Forts  Henry  and  Donelson. 
By  the  Lord  Harry !  but  some  of  us  didn't  lose  time  when 
the  Yanks  advanced  on  our  works.  We  left  in  a  hurry, 
we  did,  or  them  what  could  get  away.  Bah !  don't  tell 
me  that  the  Yanks  won't  fight:  'cos  I  knows  better." 

The  venerable  colonel  allowed  his  lips  to  carl  with  in- 
dignation, as  he  remarked,  — 

"  Had  yon  owned  slaves,  you  would  have  icmained  in 
the  country,  and  fought  until  our  independence  was 
secured." 

"  Shucks !  didn't  I  own  'em  ?  I  had  'fifty  of  'em  when 
the  war  commenced,  and  now  I  haven't  »  i.  and  I  don't 
want  no  more  sich  property." 

"  Did  they  run  away  from  you  ?  "  asked  the  colonel. 

"  Some  of  'em  did,  and  the  rest  I  sold.  Shucks '  if  I 
had  kept  'em,  they'd  all  gone." 


RUNNING  THE    BLO    lCADu~  73 

"And  yet  you  feel  no  hatred  towards  the  Yanks?" 
asked  Miss  Rhett,  in  a  tone  of  reproach. 

"  No :  the  Yanks  ain't  to  blame.  They  don't  love 
slavery,  and  no  more  does  I.  The  niggers  don't  love  it, 
so  they  cuts  and  runs  when  they  gets  a  chance.  I  don't 
blame  'em  :  I'd  do  the  same.  It  would  have  been  money 
in  my  pocket  if  there  hadn't  been  a  slave  in  Kentuck  for 
the  last  ten  years.  What  do  you  think  of  that,  South 
Carolina?" 

Mr.  Bowmount  turned  to  me  as  he  asked  the  question. 

"  South  Carolina  will  fight  for  her  institutions,"  I  re- 
plied, in  a  petulant  tone. 

"  And  so  will  old  Virginia !  "  cried  the  colonel  and  his 
daughter. 

"  Bah !  "  retorted  the  Kentuckian,  in  a  tone  of  con- 
tempt. "  I'm  a  Southern  man.  I  was  born  South  ;  I  had 
the  small-pox  South ;  I  made  all  my  money  South  ;  but  I 
tell  you,  that  we'd  better  have  kept  friends  with  the 
Yanks.  Them  is  my  sentiments ;  and  I  don't  care  who 
knows  'em." 

The  passengers  had  gradually  edged  their  way  towards 
us,  so  that  they  could  hear  what  passed. 

The  Kentuckian  glanced  around,  and  examined  the 
company  by  which  he  was  surrounded.  He  noted  each 
face  slowly  and  carefully,  as  though  he  wished  to  be  cer- 
tain before  he  spoke. 

"  Gentlemen,"  he  said  at  length,  "  I  'spose  you  is  all 
Southern  men  ?  " 

No  one  answered. 

"  Come,  don't  be  afeared  to  speak.  No  one  will  harm 
ye.  The  Yanks  will  only  be  too  happy  to  get  us  out  of 
the  country  to  interfere  with  us  now.  Come,  which  of 
yer  hates  the  Yanks  ?  " 

We  all  made  a  simultaneous  movement  that  did  not 
escape  the  sharp  eyes  of  the  Kentuckian.  A  grim  smilo 
passed  over  his  homelv  rough  face. 


1\  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADK. 

"Ah!  you  all  hate  the  Yanks,  do  you?" 

Another  significant  gesture  on  our  part. 

"  Well,  gentlemen,"  said  the  Kentuckian,  "  as  you  all 
hate  the  Yankees,  why  don't  you  remain  in  the  Confed- 
eracy, and  help  fight  her  battles  ?  " 

This  was  a  stunning  question  to  most  of  the  party  ;  so 
some  of  them  turned  away  and  looked  in  another  direc- 
tion, while  others  stammered  an  excuse  that  they  could 
serve  the  Confederacy  in  a  much  more  efficient  manner 
than  by  shouldering  a  musket. 

"O!  can  you ?"  retorted  the  square-shouldered  Ken- 
tuckian in  a  contemptuous  tone ;  and  then  he  asked,  "  Yet 
you  believe  in  the  South  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  was  the  unanimous  response. 

"  Well,  now,  I've  bin  in  seven  battles,  I  have,  and  I 
never  seed  one  of  your  faces  where  the  fire  was  hot  and 
the  lead  flew  around  like  shucks.  I've  looked  you  all 
over,  and  I  don't  remember  you ;  so  it  seems  to  me  that 
your  patriotism  don't  amount  to  much.  Eh,  colonel?" 

The  colonel  brought  his  cane  to  the  deck  with  an  em- 
phatic whack,  as  though  to  confirm  the  assertion,  while 
his  dark-eyed  daughter  manifested  her  contempt  for  the 
deserters  around  her,  and  then  her  eyes  fell  on  me,  with 
an  imploring  glance,  as  though  she  would  have  me  ac- 
knowledge some  little  deed  of  daring. 

"  By  George,  I  will !  "  I  thought.  "  I'll  invent  some- 
tinug  to  suit  her." 

"  I  can't  boast  of  military  deeds,"  I  said,  as  soon  as  I  had 
made  up  my  mind  what  to  say,  "  but  I've  seen  a  little  ser- 
vice on  the  water ;  and,  when  Fort  Sumter  was  battered. 
I  was  in  command  of  a  steamer,  and  did  good  work.  Since 
then  I  have  been  employed  on  the  Mississippi,  seen 
much  service,  have  been  under  fire  a  number  of  times, 
and  am  now  bound  to  Nassau  to  wait  for  something  tn 
turn  up.  My  name  is  Barnweil." 


RUNNING-  THE  BLOCKADE.  75 

Miss  Rhett  gave  me  a  radiant  glance,  but  just  then  all 
conversation  was  interrupted. 

"  All  aboard !  "  shouted  the  captain  of  the  steamer,  and 
with  the  words  the  plank  was  drawn  in,  and  we  backed  from 
the  dock  into  the  river,  and  were  under  way  for  Nassau. 


CHAPTER  III. 

A  MYSTERIOUS   PASSENGER.  —  A  BLUNT  KENTUCKIAN.  — 
A  QUARREL  AND   RECONCILIATION  ON  THE  PASSAGE.  - 
OUR  ARRIVAL  AT   NASSAU. 

No  sooner  was  the  head  of  our  vessel  pointed  towards 
Sandy  Hook,  steaming  along  at  the  rate  of  ten  knots  an 
hour,  the  Cross  of  St.  George  flying  overhead,  English  offi- 
cers on  the  quarter-deck  strutting  and  fuming,  andcasti'ig 
contemptuous  glances  at  our  gunboats,  at  the  forts,  ah  1 
at  everything  that  was  sheltered  by  the  American  flag,  tha  » 
the  passengers  began  to  recover  their  spirits,  which  the^ 
\&d  appeared  to  lose  while  lying  at  the  docks.  Some  weie 
even  bold  enough  to  walk  the  deck,  and  whistle  "  M^ 
Maryland  ;  "  and  others  turned  down  the  collars  of  theL 
coats,  as  if  no  longer  ashamed  to  show  their  faces. 

All  these  signs  the  colonel  and  his  handsome  daughter 
noticed  ;  and  I  observed  that  once  in  a  while  they  com 
muuicated  together  as  though  comparing  opinions  respect 
ing  the  company  that  promenaded  before  them. 

We  were  about  five  miles  from  Castle  Garden,  wn«-. 
I  noticed  a  Whitehall  boat,  containing  a  man  in  the  stern 
sheets  and  one  at  the  oars,  shoot  out  from  the  laud,  ano 
pull  so  as  to  head  us  off  or  cross  our  bows.  The  pers>o 
in  the  stern  of  the  boat  waved  a  white  handkerchief,  ag 
though  to  attract  our  attention ;  and  instantly  the  eyes  of 


76  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

the  passengers  were  centred  on  the  craft,  and  numerous 
speculations  were  made  regarding  ihe  wishes  of  the  oc- 
cupants. 

The  captain  of  the  steamer  levelled  his  glass  at  the  boat, 
and  made  a  long  and  careful  examination  of  both  men. 
Then  he  handed  the  glass  to  a  passenger  who  had  kept  his 
face  hidden  by  the  collar  of  his  coat,  and  who  looked  sus- 
piciously at  every  one  on  board,  as  though  fearing  treach- 
ery at  the  hands  of  all  who  were  near  him. 

This  latter  individual  —  a  dark,  hard-featured  individ- 
ual, with  restless  eyes  and  nervous  movements  —  had  no 
sooner  placed  the  glass  to  his  eye  than  he  said,  speaking  to 
the  captain.  — 

"  It  is  he." 

At  these  mysterious  words,  the  captain  of  the  steamer 
stepped  to  the  house  over  the  engineer's  quarters,  and 
touched  a  bell.  In  an  instant  the  steam  was  shut  off,  and 
the  wheels  stopped,  while  the  vessel  slowly  made  its  way 
through  the  water  ;  and  thus,  drifting  with  the  tide,  the 
boat  shot  alongside,  and  up  the  ladder  sprang  the  person 
who  had  sat  in  the  stern  sheets,  and  who  had  waved  his 
handkerchief  to  attract  attention. 

"  Push  off,  Bob,"  the  man  said  as  soon  as  he  touched 
the  deck.  "You  had  better  wait  till  the  tide  turns,  and 
then  drift  back  to  the  city.  Don't  attempt  to  land  on  the 
Jersey  shore,  for  some  one  might  attempt  to  pick  you  up. 
Detectives  are  more  plentiful  over  there  than  fiddlers  in  a 
certain  hot  place  in  the  other  world.  Good  by  till  I  see 
you  again.  Tell  the  folks  that  I'm  all  right.*' 

The  boatman  nodded,  and  pushed  off,  pulling  slowly 
towards  the  city ;  while  the  person  who  had  boarded  us 
in  so  unceremonious  a  fashion  commenced  removing  a  wig 
from  his  head  and  a  pair  of  grizzly  whiskers  from  his  face, 
revealing  the  countenance  of  a  good-looking  young  man, 
ftill  •/  determination  dash,  and  generosity. 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  77 

"  By  St.  George  and  the  dragon  ! "  he  said,  as  he  threw 
aside  the  things  he  had  taken  off,  "  I  have  cheated  the 
Yankees  once  more,  thank  fortune  !  " 

The  colonel  and  his  daughter,  as  though  delighted  with 
the  information,  manifested  some  anxiety  to  see  the  man 
who  had  outwitted  the  Yankees.  They  leaned  forward, 
and  I  am  convinced  that  nothing  but  the  lameness  of  the 
colonel  prevented  him  from  starting  up,  and  rushing  for- 
ward to  shake  hands  with  the  young  fellow. 

"  Soule*,"  said  the  man  who  had  looked  through  the 
captain's  spyglass,  walking  towards  the  young  fellow  who 
had  shed  so  much  false  hair,  "  I  am  glad  to  see  you.  I 
feared  that  we  should  miss  you.." 

They  shook  hands  with  much  earnestness,  and  the  man 
who  was  called  Sould  laughed  as  he  replied,  — 

"  I  have  been  on  the  watch  for  you  since  sunrise.  I 
knew  when  you  started  to  a  minute;  for  half  a  dozen 
boatmen  telegraphed  the  fact  by  the  aid  of  their  oars.  1 
knew  that  I  should  hit  you  ;  but  I  feared  that  some  of  the 
sneaking  Yankee  detectives  would  investigate  a  little 
before  I  left.  Half  a  dozen  of  the  curs  were  near  me  all 
night ;  but  I  shouted  strong  for  the  Union,  and  threw 
them  off  the  scent." 

"  You  are  always  lucky ;  and  your  boldness  makes  you 
so,  I  believe.  But  did  you  succeed  ?  'r 

"  Yes :  better  far  than  I  could  have  hoped  for.  But 
more  of  this  at  another  time.  Who  have  we  on  board? " 

The  young  fellow  glanced  over  the  passengers  in  a  con- 
descending manner,  until  his  eyes  lighted  on  the  hand- 
some face  of  Miss  Rhett.  Here  he  allowed  them  to  remain 
for  a  moment  or  two,  or  until  she  had  met  his  half-admir- 
ing, half-impertinent  gaze  with  one  of  defiance,  disdain,  or 
maidenly  modesty,  I  didn't  know  which.  At  any  rate,  she 
appeared  to  have  made  an  impression,  and  one  that  was 
rather  favorable ;  for  young  Soule  whispered  to  his  bilious 


78  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 

friend  that  she  was  a  "  deuceclly  handsome  girl,  and  that 
•le  must  be  introduced  to  her." 

Miss  Rhett  heard  the  compliment,  and  cast  a  trium 
phant  glance  towards  her  father ;  but  the  old  gentleman 
frowned  at  her  for  indulging  in  such  petty  triumphs  and 
ranities  ;  and  that  look  was  enough  to  restore  her  to  all 
the  dignity  of  the  first  families  of  Virginia.  She  lowered 
her  eyes,  and  whispered  to  me,  that  men  were  so  very 
rude  nowadays  that  there  was  no  enduring  them. 

Mr.  Soule*  and  the  bilious-looking  passenger  together 
entered  the  cabin  ;  and  then  the  rest  of  the  people  who 
were  on  the  quarter-deck  paired  off,  and  talked  in  low 
tones  of  their  private  affairs,  while  Colonel  Rhett  and 
daughter,  and  Mr.  Bowmount  and  myself,  discussed  the 
prospects  of  the  Southern  Confederacy  until  the  pilot  left 
the  vessel.  When  that  individual  went  over  the  side  of 
the  steamer,  he  was  pleased  to  say  that  all  she  wanted 
was  a  secession  flag  to  make  her  a  bully  confederate  craft ; 
and  with  something  like  a  curse,  at  least  it  sounded  like 
one,  he  dropped  into  his  little  dingey,  and  pulled  for  his 
pilot  boat. 

"  Come,  Barnwell,"  said  Bowmount ;  "  you  and  mi; 
won't  quarrel  'cos  we  b'long  to  different  States.  South 
Carolina  is  a  mean  State,  and  won't  compare  with  Old  K  un- 
tuck ;  but  I  don't  intend  to  boast;  so  take  a  cigar,  ami 
let's  go  forward  and  have  a  smoke.  Don't  refuse  ;  'cos 
I'm  rather  a  good  fellow  after  all,  and  have  taken  a  likin' 
to  you." 

"  If  I  could  only  join  you,  I  should  be  pleased,"  cried 
Colonel  Rhett.  "  But  active  service  in  the  field  has 
lamed  and  stiffened  me  ;  so  I  will  remain  with  my  daugh- 
ter, in  the  hopes  of  soon  being  able  to  shake  hands  with 
that  young  Soule".  I  know  that  he  has  been  doing  some- 
thing to  bother  the  Yankees,  and  I  must  find  out  what  it 
Is,  so  that  I  can  rejoice  with  him." 


RUNNING   THt.    BLOCKADE.  f- 

Bowmount  and  I  walked  towards  the  smoke-sta<A, 
where  we  could  enjoy  our  cigars  without  fear  of  beiug 
disturbed.  After  we  had  taken  a  puff  or  two,  the  Ken- 
tuckian  remarked,  in  his  energetic  manner,  — 

"  Shucks  !  what  mean  men  Old  Virginny  does  raise 
now!  don't  she?  They  all  belongs  to  the  fust  families. 
Hang  me,  if  I  ever  seed  one  that  belonged  to  the  second 
class  ;  did  you  ?  " 

He  didn't  wait  for  me  to  reply,  but  chewed  away  at  the 
end  of  his  cigar,  as  though  he  was  masticating  some  of  the 
pretensions  of  the  Virginia  people. 

"  They  is  all  mighty  fine  for  talk,  and  sich  like,"  mut- 
tered the  Kentuckian  ;  "  but  darned  if  they  can  hold  a 
candle  to  our  folks  for  real  pluck." 

"  South  Carolina,"  I  said,  in  a  tone  that  I  thought  might 
resemble  one  of  the  fire-eaters  of  the  Palmetto  State,  "  is 
a  State  that  will  turn  her  back  to  —  " 

"  O,  shucks  !  "  interrupted  the  blunt  Kentuckian  ; 
"  South  Carolina  had  her  belly  full  of  fight  in  the  old 
Revolution.  She  was  all  full  of  sound  and  fury,  like  a 
bladder  with  peas  in  it.  No  offence  to  you,  old  feller, 
'cos  I  really  like  yer,  yer  seem  so  different  from  them  ere 
fire-eatin'  chaps  what  talk  fight,  but  don't  fight." 

I  made  some  little  pretension  to  being  indignant,  as  it 
true  blustering  son  of  South  Carolina  naturally  would 
under  the  circumstances.  I  actually  turned  away,  and 
said  that  I  would  hear  no  such  insulting  talk,  and  that, 
when  we  arrived  at  Nassau,  he  should  hear  from  me  ;  but 
the  Kentuckian  didn't  seem  to  care  for  my  anger,  for  he 
continued  to  smoke  his  cigar,  chewing  the  end  like  a  cud, 
until  I  turned  to  leave  him,  when  he  laid  one  of  his  heavy, 
rather  dirty  hands  on  my  arm,  and  said,  — 

"  Don't  be  a  fool,  Barnwell.  You  know  you  has  more 
sense  than  most  of  the  low  chaps  of  your  State ;  so  let's 
talk,  and  make  use  of  each  other." 


80  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

He  offered  his  hand,  and  after  some  little  hesitation 
I  accepted  it. 

"  That's  hearty.  Now  to  business.  What  do  you 
mean  to  do  after  you  lands  at  Nassau?" 

"  That  will  depend  on  circumstances,"  was  my  cautious 
answer. 

"  Just  so.  I  'spose  you  wants  to  make  a  few  dollars,  if 
you  can  do  it  in  a  neat  manner." 

"  The  temptation  would  be  strong,"  I  replied.  "  But 
I  don't  know  as  the  confederate  naval  department  would 
let  me  do  what  I  wish  to." 

44  O,  blast  the  naval  department  1  It's  only  a  name. 
Where's  its  ships?  where's  its  sailors?  O,  shucks  !  don't 
talk,  or  I  shall  laugh  at  you,  even  if  you  has  served  on  an 
iron-clad,  and  helped  drive  some  fifty  or  sixty  half-smoth- 
ered men  out  of  Fort  Sumter.  Come,  you'll  allow  that 
was  mean,  won't  you?  " 

44  No,  sir ;  I  won't.     The  hated  flag  —  " 

44  O,  shucks  I  don't  talk  sich  gammon  to  me.  That  will 
do  for  the  poor  whites  of  the  South ;  them  dirty  chaps 
what  don't  know  how  to  read,  write,  or  talk  in  a  civil- 
ized manner.  But  it  won't  do  for  me.  The  flag  was  well 
enough  afore  we  struck  it  down,  and  we  is  all  going  with 
it;  more  fools  we.  But,  shucks!  it's  no  use  to  talk;  so 
let's  drop  the  subject,  and  see  if  we  can't  put  our  heads 
together  and  make  a  few  dunes  while  the  fools  is  fightin'." 

"  Yes  ;  go  on.     How  can  we  do  it  ?  " 

44  Well,  there's  only  one  way.  We  might  go  into  the 
blockade-running. ' ' 

44  I've  thought  of  that,"  I  said,  in  a  meaning  tone. 

44  Then  so  much  the  better ;  'cos  now  is  the  time  to 
think  of  it  in  earnest.  Money  is  there.  Shucks !  don't  I 
know  it?" 

At  this  instant  I  happened  to  look  up,  and  saw  Miss 
Rhett  standing  on  the  other  side  of  the  funnel,  with  her 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  81 

hack  towards  us;  but  how  she  had  gained  such  a  position 
without  being  noticed,  was  more  than  I  could  tell.  There 
she  stood  ;  but  I  could  not  even  guess  how  long  she  had 
been  there,  or  why  she  had  left  her  father's  side,  to  take 
up  such  an  uncomfortable  position  as  the  one  she  had 
taken  near  the  hot  smoke-stack,  and  near  to  the  strong- 
smelling  machinery,  a  snuff  of  which  is  enough  to  make  a 
woman  sick,  even  if  she  is  strong  in  the  region  of  tl  e 
stomach.  Had  she  overheard  our  conversation  ?  That 
was  a  question  that  I  could  not  answer  ;  for  her  back  was 
towards  us,  and  I  was  not  aware  how  loud  we  had  con- 
versed. 

I  made  a  sign  to  the  Kentuckian,  and  pointed  to  the 
girl. 

"  Shucks !  "  he  said,  in  an  indifferentrtone,  "  what  do  I 
care  for  her  ?  She  may  hear  all  my  plans  if  she  wants  to. 
She  can't  do  us  any  harm,  'cos  where  we  is  goin'  is  as 
much  a  confederate  port  as  Charleston.  I  know  it.  She's 
a  Southern  gal,  and  knows  what's  good  for  the  old  first 
families  of  Virginia  ;  do;i't  you,  Miss  Rhett?  " 

It  was  a  little  singular  that  she  could  not  hear  the  Ken- 
tuckian, although  he  spoke  in  rather  loud  tones  ;  and  we 
were  compelled  to  pass  round  the  smoke-stack  to  attract 
her  attention. 

We  found  she  was  humming,  in  a  low  tone,  "  My  Mary- 
land," with  her  eyes  fixed  upon  the  land  that  now  began  to 
grow  dim  and  fog-like  ;  and  were  forced  even  to  touch  her 
arm  to  recall  her  wandering  senses.  But  when  she  saw 
us  standing  near,  she  started,  and  covered  her  face  with 
her  hands,  as  though  she  did  not  desire  that  we  should 
notice  her  emotion. 

We  waited  until  she  looked  up,  although  Bowmount 
said,  — 

"  Shucks,  miss  !  what's  the  use  of  cry  in'  when  you  is 
leavin'  a  land  of  sich  everlastin'  tyranny  ?  Recollect,  you 


8-2  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 

can't  see  none  but  hateful  shores  here,  and  them,  you  say, 
ain't  worth  a  tear." 

"  I  know,"  the  young  lady  responded,  dashing  away  the 
murks  of  tears ;  "  but  then  it  is  my  native  land,  after  all." 

"  But  it  ain't  Old  Virginny,  is  it  ?  "  demanded  the  Kt>n- 
tuckian. 

"  No,"  with  a  deep  sigh,  and  fresh  evidence  of  tears. 

"  A  State  what  used  to  produce  more  office-seekers  to  the 
aero  than  any  other  State  in  the  Union.  O,  shucks !  what 
patriots  them  fellers  would  be  when  they  flocked  in  the 
hotels  of  Washington.  There  wasn't  one  of  'em  but  was 
willin'  to  lay  down  his  blessed  life  for  the  good  of  his 
country,  and  a  fat  office  ;  and  then  they  was  so  disinter- 
ested !  They  was  allers  willin'  to  fight  all  men  from  other 
States  what  wanted  a  office  ;  and  I  really  believe  that 
Old  Virginny,  in  her  best  days,  could  have  furnished  the 
men  for  all  the  oifices  in  the  Union." 

"  You  really  must  not  abuse  my  State  in  the  manner  that 
you  do,"  Miss  Rhett  murmured.  "  I  will  not  listen  to  it. 
It  hurts  my  feelings,  and  it  hurts  the  feelings  of  pa  ;  and 
now  that  he  is  so  used  up  with  hardships,  he  can't  endure 
much  joking." 

"  Then  we  won't  rub  him  hard,"  responded  the  Ken- 
tuckian.  "  We'll  praise  Bull  Run  and  Virginny,  and  we'll 
bring  him  round." 

Miss  Rhett  said  that  the  Kentuckian  was  a  wicked  man, 
and  that  he  was  full  of  his  fun. 

"But  we  want  to  ax  your  opinion  on  a  p'int  that  is  in- 
teresting," the  Kentuckian  said.  "  Now,  my  friend  and 
me  has  been  talkin'  over  some  matters  of  business,  and  he 
was  afraid  that  you  would  overhear  him.  I  said  I  didn't 
care  if  you  did,  and  that  I  would  ax  your  opinion  or  the 
p'int.  Now,  it's  this.  We  can  make  money  by  ru^nin' 
the  blockade.  Wouldn't  you  do  it  ?  " 

For  one  or  two  seconds  the  girl's  eyes  wandered  over 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  80 

our  faces,  as  though  to  read  their  expression ;  and  I 
thought  she  seemed  a  little  startled  by  the  suddenness- of 
the  question. 

"  Why  do  you  ask  me  ?  "  she  demanded,  with  a  flushed 
cheek,  and  eyes  that  sought  the  duck,  as  I  thought,  in 
maiden  simplicity  and  timidity. 

"  Because  I  wanted  to  show  this  South  Carolina  chap 
that  I  ain't  afeared  to  tell  everybody  on  board  the  ship 
that  I  mean  to  make  money  by  runnin'  the  blockade. 
Now,  wouldn't  you  do  it  ?  " 

"  But  suppose  you  should  get  caught  ?  Then  you 
would  lose  all ;  and  the  Yankees  would  rejoice,  confound 
them." 

"  Yes  ;  the  loss  would  be  heavy,  but  the  profits  big  if 
successful,"  responded  the  Kentuckian. 

"Then  I'd  run  the  risk,  and  cheat  the  Yankees,"  ex- 
claimed the  girl,  with  a  laugh,  clapping  her  hands  as 
though  it  was  a  good  joke. 

"  We  are  all  justifiable  in  cheating  them.  I  have  done 
so  many  times,  and  I  hope  to  many  times  more." 

We  turned,  and  saw  that  Colonel  Rhett  had  approached 
during  the  discussion,  leaning  on  the  arm  of  young  Souls', 
the  man  who  had  come  on  board  but  an  hour  or  two 
before. 

"  Miss  Rhett,"  said  the  colonel,  with  a  wave  of  the 
hand  in  the  Virginia  style  of  politeness.  "  this  is  Vincent 
Soule*,  of  New  Orleans.  He  hates  the  Yankees,  and  has 
done  them  some  injury,  and  hopes  to  do  more." 

"  Unless  they  should  sue  for  peace,  and  ask  our  pardon 
for  past  offences.  In  that  case,  we  will  agree  to  forgive 
them,  and  only  kick  them  when  they  come  in  our  way." 

"He's  a  true  Southerner,"  cried  the  colonel,  rubbing 
his  hands,  and  emphasizing  his  remarks  with  a  rap  of  his 
cane.  "  None  but  a  high-toned  Southern  gentlemen  would 
utter  such  words." 


84  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

"High-toned  fiddlesticks!"  snorted  the  Kentuckian. 
"  You  all  talk  as  though  the  Yanks  was  a  parcel  of  nig- 
gers, and  would  hold  still  while  you  slapped  their  chops 
and  kicked  'em.  Shucks  !  none  but  darned  fools  would 
talk  that  way.  Now,  you  just  let  me  have  my  say,"  —  for 
young  Soul6  was  about  to  interrupt  him  with  an  angry 
exclamation,  —  "  and  then  you  may  talk  as  much  as  you 
please.  Now,  I've  fit  the  Yankees,  and  I've  drunk  with 
'em,  and  I've  seen  'em  under  all  circumstances  ;  and  I  tell 
you  that  they  is  just  as  brave  as  we  is,  and  can  fight  and 
kick  just  as  well.  You  hit  one  of  'em,  and  he'll  hit  you 
back.  You  kick  one  of  'em,  and  he'll  kick  too,  and  just 
as  hard  as  you  kick.  They  ain't  all  the  time  pickin'  up 
quarrels,  like  some  of  our  folks; -but  they  won't  stand 
much  nonsense,  now  I  tell  you  ;  so  the  man  what  says  he 
would  go  through  the  world  booting  Yanks,  don't  know 
what  he's  talkin'  about." 

Young  Soul£  commenced  to  grow  indignant  ;  for  he  did 
not  expect  such  words  from  a  Kentuckian. 

"  Sir,"  cried  the  young  fellow,  in  a  swelling  tone,  "  you 
have  insulted  a  son  of  Louisiana,  and  you  must  answer 
for  it." 

"  O,  shucks  !  go  away  with  your  boyish  nonsense.  I'm 
a  Kentuckian,  and  speaks  my  mind  just  as  I  find  it.  There 
ain't  no  bounce  about  me,  if  there  is  about  you.  I've 
allers  fit  the  Yankees  in  a  fair,  stand-up  manner ;  but  I 
never  fit  'em  by  spyin'  about  their  cities." 

•The  young  fellow  seemed  to  be  almost  beside  himself 
with  rage,  and  once  I  saw  him  place  his  hand  in  his 
breast  as  though  feeling  for  the  handle  of  a  knife  ;  but  at 
this  instant  the  dark,  bilious  man,  Mr.  Newman  Fudge, 
of  Tennessee,  a  confederate  agent,  laid  his  hand  on  Sould's 
shoulder,  and  spoke  to  him. 

"  No  quarrelling,"  the  agent  said.  "  The  South  has 
none  too  many  such  men  as  you  two.  Come ;  stop  thia 
misunderstanding,  or  I  will  report  you  both." 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  85 

"  Report  eh,  will  you !  "  replied  the  blunt  Kentuckian. 
"  If  a  man  makes  a  fool  of  himself,  I  shall  tell  him  so ;  and 
if  he  don't  like  it,  he  must  do  the  next  best  thing.  All 
men  what  respects  himself  will  have  some  respect  for  his 
enemies  ;  and  although  I  has  fit  the  Yanks,  yet  I  don't 
think  they  is  what  some  of  our  folks  call  'em.  In  fact,  I 
rather  likes  'em,  'cos  they  is  smart." 

"  Then  you  should  have  staid  with  'em,"  retorted 
Miss  Rhett,  with  a  curl  of  her  thin  lips,  and  a  flash  of  her 
black  eyes. 

"  Thank  you,  Miss  Rhett ;  but  I  think  I  can  make  more 
money  by  running  the  blockade.  Besides,  I  don't  believe 
the  Yanks  would  let  me  rest  in  their  cities,  as  I'm  fresh 
from  the  battle-fields  where  I  has  fit  their  brothers  and 
relations.  You  needn't  scorn  me,  miss,  'cos  I'm  a  man, 
and  can't  take  any  notice  of  it  from  you ;  but  I  can  look 
around  and  see  if  you  has  any  relatives,  and  take  satisfac- 
tion out  of  them." 

This  hint  seemed  to  have  some  effect  on  the  young  lady, 
for  she  recollected  that  she  was  endangering  her  father ; 
and  I  think  that  the  colonel  noted  the  fact  also,  for  he 
took  his  child's  arm,  and  hobbled  aft,  as  though  to  get  out 
of  the  way  of  trouble. 

"Come,  Bowmount,"  said  the  confederate  agent,  "you 
and  Soule'  must  shake  hands.  If  I  did  not  know  you  both, 
I  would  not  interfere.  But  Bowmount  has  fought  well, 
and  served  out  his  time  at  the  head  of  his  regiment. 
Soule  has  liad  battles,  but  they  have  not  been  in  the  field ; 
he  has  performed  just  as  good  service,  however,  as  though 
he  had  been  under  fire  for  the  last  two  years.  Come  ; 
forget,  and  shake  hands." 

"  O,  yes !  "  said  the  Kentuckian,  "  I  will."  And  the 
two  men  shook  hands ;  but  as  Bowmount  handed  me  a 
cigar,  and  walked  with  me  forwards,  he  whispered,  — 

"  That  Soule*  is  a  confounded  confederate  spy,  and  has  a 


8tf  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

whole  carpet-bag  of  information  about  the  Yanks,  which 
he  is  going  to  send  to  Richmond  by  a  blockade-runner.  I 
know  it." 

These  words  set  me  thinking;  and  I  determined  to 
obtain  possession  of  that  carpet-bag  before  the  voyage 
ended. 

The  night  before  we  dropped  anchor  at  Nassau,  I  ob- 
served that  Miss  Rhett  was  particularly  confidential  with 
Mr.  Soule\  She  flirted  with  him,  laughed,  and  listened 
to  his  stories,  flashed  her  eyes  at  him,  sat  by  his  side,  and 
would  not  let  him  leave  her  even  for  a  moment. 

And  the  colonel,  the  venerable  gray-headed  colonel,  who 
belonged  to  one  of  the  first  families  of  Virginia,  smiled  at 
the  happiness  of  his  daughter,  and  seemed  pleased  to  think 
she  was  enjoying  herself. 

I  think  that  it  was  about  ten  o'clock  at  night  when  the 
colonel,  whose  infirmities  seemed  to  decrease  quite  rapidly, 
left  the  party  of  men  with  whom  he  was  conversing,  and 
approached  his  daughter  and  Soule". 

"  I  am  going  below  a  few  moments,"  he  said.  "  I  have  a 
little  writing  to  do.  Will  you  come  with  me,  or  remain  ?  " 

"  O  !  don't  take  her  away,"  cried  Soule*.  "  The  night 
is  so  pleasant  that  no  harm  can  come  to  her  while  remain- 
ing on  deck." 

It  did  seem  that  a  significant  glance  passed  between  the 
father  and  daughter,  but  I  might  have  been  mistaken.  It 
was  probably  a  look  of  parental  anxiety. 

"Well,  take  good  care  of  her,  Mr.  Soule,"  said  the 
fond  parent.  "  I  will  join  you  in  a  short  time." 

Colonel  Rhett,  with  more  lameness  than  he  had  mani- 
fested for  some  time,  entered  the  cabin,  and,  I  supposed, 
retired  to  his  state-room,  for  I  saw  the  light  from  his  lamp 
shine  through  the  dead-light  that  was  let  into  the  deck. 

I  walked  towards  the  smoke-stack,  and  thought  ovei 
something  that  had  been  on  my  mind  for  several  days.  It 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  81 

was  a  question  how  I  should  secure  the  carpei-bag  that 
Soule  had  brought  on  board,  and  which  Bowmourit  had 
hinted  contained  valuable  secrets,  collected  for  the  rebels 
under  circumstances  of  considerable  peril  to  the  com- 
piler. 

I  had  not  seen  the  carpet-bag  since  Sould  had  brought 
it  on  board.  Where  he  concealed  it,  I  did  not  know  ;  but 
I  thought  that  the  government  would  esteem  it  a  duty  on 
my  part  to  make  a  strike  for  the  bag,  and  destroy  its  con- 
tents, or  else  preserve  some  of  the  papers  for  future  ref- 
erence. 

I  glanced  along  the  quarter-deck,  and  thought  that  now 
was  my  chance  if  ever.  Soule  was  engaged  with  Miss 
Rhett,  the  rest  of  the  passengers  were  either  laughing  or 
whispering,  or  else  relating  the  stories  of  their  wrongs  at 
the  hands  of  the  Federals,  who  were  painted  as  monsters 
of  cruelty,  vulgarity,  and  ignorance.  These  were  the 
men  who  considered  themselves  better  than  Northern 
mudsills  ;  while  they  indulged  in  language  and  debauchery 
such  as  none  but  the  most  degraded  would  countenance. 
They  would  drink  whiskey  and  chew  tobacco  from  the 
time  they  arose  until  they  went  to  bed,  and  seemed  to 
think  that  such  conduct  exhibited  a  noble  spirit  of  South- 
ern independence.  I  need  not  say  that  it  disgusted  me  ; 
yet  I  had  to  avoid  showing  it,  and  sometimes  drink  when 
it  was  nauseating  to  do  so.  It  did  not  seem  to  me  that  my 
fellow-passengers  could  represent  true  Southern  gentlemen, 
and  I  afterwards  discovered  that  they  did  not. 

Bowmount  was  lying  on  a  settee  amidships,  smoking  a 
cigar,  and  dreaming  of  the  profits  which  he  would  make 
in  running  the  blockade,  while  the  cabin  servants  were  all 
yarning  it  forward,  confident  that  their  services  would  not 
be  needed  for  some  time  to  come. 

"  Now  or  never,"  I  thought ;  and,  after  a  hasty  glance 
all  over  the  deck,  entered  the  cabin. 


88  KUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

All  was  quiet.  The  cabin  lamp  that  hung  over  the 
dinner-table  burned  low  and  dim,  for  it  had  been  turned 
down  when  the  servants  finished  their  work.  No  one  was 
to  be  seen.  None  of  the  state-rooms  were  occupied,  and 
the  only  one  that  was  lighted  was  Colonel  Rhett's. 

For  a  moment  I  stopped  and  looked  around  so  to  be 
certain  that  I  was  not  observed  ;  then  I  crossed  the  cabin 
without  noise,  and  laid  my  hand  on  the  knob  of  Soule's. 
state-room  door. 

I  pushed  hard  and  firmly,  but  the  door  was  locked,  as  I 
half  expected  it  would  be  ;  so  I  quietly  returned  to  a  sofa 
at  the  head  of  the  dining-table,  and  laid  down  to  think  of 
the  matter. 

Just  as  I  had  stretched  out,  the  door  of  Colonel  Rhett's 
state-room  opened,  and  the  colonel's  venerable  head  ap- 
peared, and  then  the  colonel's  sharp  eyes  were  cast  about  in 
all  directions  with  such  rapidity  that  it  seemed  as  though  he 
must  take  iu  everything  at  a  glance  ;  but  he  did  not,  for  I 
was  partly  concealed  by  the  table,  and  the  light  did  not 
reveal  where  I  was  lying. 

I  was  about  to  speak  ;  but  the  colonel's  movements  and 
looks  M  ere  so  suspicious,  that  I  remained  quiet,  and 
watched  him. 

For  a  moment  the  colonel  stood  still,  and  listened. 
Then  he  stole  to  the  door  of  the  cabin,  making  no  sound 
of  footsteps,  from  which  I  gathered  that  he  was  in  his 
stocking-feet. 

"  What  in  the  deuce  is  he  after  ?  "  I  asked  myself. 

Then  the  colonel  showed  what  he  was  after ;  for  he 
glided  to  the  door  of  Soule's  state-room  ;  and,  while  he 
was  crossing  the  cabin,  I  noticed  that  the  limping,  slow- 
moving  invalid  had  given  place  to  an  active-motioned 
man,  without  a  limp,  or  the  least  sign  of  age. 

"  This  becomes  interesting,"  I  thought.  "  I  will  keep 
quiet  till  I  see  what  is  up." 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  89 

As  soon  as  the  colonel  reached  the  door,  he  did  not 
waste  time  in  trying  if  it  was  locked.  He  appeared  to  be 
aware  that  it  was,  and  I  supposed  that  he  had  tested  it 
when  first  entering  the  cabin.  At  any  rate,  he  appeared 
to  take  a  piece  of  wire  from  his  pocket,  inserted  it  in  the 
keyhole,  worked  it  about  for  a  moment  or  two,  and  then  I 
heard  the  bolt  of  the  lock  slip,  and  the  door  was  thrown 
open. 

Once  more  the  colonel  stopped  and  listened.  No  one 
was  coming. 

His  keen  eyes  glistened  as  he  waited  ;  but,  finding  that 
the  coast  was  clear,  he  entered  the  state-room,  leaving  the 
door  open. 

"  He  is  on  the  same  errand  as  myself,"  I  thought.  4>  But 
he  must  not  get  the  start  of  me." 

I  pulled  off  my  boots,  and  placed  myself  near  the  door, 
waiting  till  he  once  more  entered  the  cabin. 

I  do  not  know  how  long  I  had  to  wait.  It  might  have 
been  five  minutes,  and  it  might  have  been  ten.  Time 
passes  quickly  under  such  circumstances.  I  only  know 
that  I  could  hear  the  colonel  fumbling  in  the  berth,  and 
under  it,  for  the  carpet-bag,  and  that  at  last  he  found  it ; 
and  then  the  noise  of  a  sharp  knife,  as  it  cut  the  bag,  was 
heard,  a  rustling  of  papers,  and  I  knew  that  the  colonel 
had  possession  of  the  documents  which  I  so  much  desired. 

When  assured  of  this  fact,  I  returned  to  the  sofa,  and 
once  more  laid  down  out  of  sight ;  but  with  my  eyes 
open,  and  senses  on  the  watch. 

In  a  moment  or  two  the  colonel  stole  out  of  the  room, 
glanced  around  the  cabin  to  see  if  any  one  was  watching 
his  motions,  then  locked  the  state-room  door,  and  was 
gliding  towards  his  own  quarters,  when  I  arose  from  my  re- 
clining position. 

"  Ahem,"  I  said. 

The  colonel  started  as  though  be  had  been  struck  by 


90  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

the  knife  of  an  assassin.  He  quickly  turned  to  soe  who 
was  watching  his  motions,  and  his  eyes  looked  fiendish 
when  they  rested  on  me. 

••  Ah,  colonel !  "  I  said,  still  looking  at  him  in  a  calm, 
steady  manner ;  "  I  thought  you  were  in  bed.  I  did  not 
expect  to  find  you  wandering  about  like  a  distressed 
spirit." 

"  No,"  stammered  the  scion  of  one  of  the  first  families 
of  Virginia  ;  "  I  haven't  retired  just  yet.  In  fact,  I  don't 
feel  sleepy." 

"  O  !  you  don't  ?  Then  that  is  the  reason  you  wandered 
into  Mr.  Soul^'s  state-room  by  the  aid  of  a  skeleton  key." 

He  looked  as  though  about  to  commence  blustering ; 
but,  as  I  did  not  quail  beneath  his  dark,  vicious  eyes, 
thought  better  of  it. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Just  what  I  have  said.  I  was  lying  on  this  sofa,  and 
saw  all  your  movements  ;  and  now  I  have  but  to  raise  an 
alarm,  and  you  stand  before  the  passengers  as  a  thief  and 
a  burglar  —  a  fit  subject  for  a  pair  of  irons,  and  a  berth  in 
the  run  of  the  ship." 

The  colonel  looked  particularly  vicious  as  he  took  a  step 
towards  me,  with  his  right  hand  raised  as  though  to  strike  ; 
but,  finding  that  I  did  not  retreat  or  move,  he  said,  — 

"  You  are  a  brave  fellow.     Come ;  let  us  be  friends." 

He  extended  his  hand ;  but  I  assumed  a  perfect  South- 
Carolina  look  as  I  drew  back. 

"No,  sir.  I  do  not  shake  hands  with  thieves  and 
burglars." 

"  By  Heaven  !  "  he  cried,  "you  shall  repent  this.  If  I 
live  to  set  foot  on  shore,  I'll  have  satisfaction." 

"  Dog  !  "  I  said,  with  an  effort  at  virtuous  indignation 
that  was  quite  creditable,  "  do  you  dare  to  threaten  me  ? 
I  have  a  great  mind  to  give  you  up,  miserable  impostor 
iLutt  you  are." 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  9l 

This  appeared  to  touch  him,  for  he  assumed  a  humble 
look  as  he  asked,  — 

"  What  can  I  do  to  make  you  my  friend  ?  " 

"  Your  friend  !  Don't  insult  me.  I  have  no  such 
friends  as  you  are.  My  friends  are  all  gentlemen,  and 
would  scorn  to  steal  into  a  state-room." 

He  rather  winced  at  this,  and  I  intended  that  it  should 
cut  deep  ;  for  only  by  such  a  course  could  I  accomplish  the 
end  I  had  in  view. 

"  What  terms  can  I  make  with  you  ?  "  asked  he,  "  so 
that  you  will  pledge  me  your  word  not  to  mention  what 
you  know  and  have  seen  ?  ' ' 

"  Give  me  the  papers  that  you  hold  in  your  hand." 

He  hesitated  for  a  moment,  and  was  about  to  re- 
monstrate. 

At  this  instant  we  heard  some  one  entering  the  cabin ; 
so  I  motioned  the  colonel  to  a  seat,  and  told  him  not  to 
move  until  I  ordered  him  to. 

It  was  not  my  purpose  to  let  any  one  know  that  Colonel 
Rhett  had  entered  Mr.  Soule's  state-room,  and  stolen  valu- 
able papers  —  so  valuable,  in  fact,  that  I  wanted  them  for 
my  own  use,  thereby  confusing  the  rebel  government 
a  little,  and  confounding  some  of  its  emissaries.  I  had  a 
game  of  bluff  to  play,  and  held  a  good  hand  to  back  up 
my  bets  ;  but,  to  win,  it  was  necessary  that  I  should  have 
no  one  looking  over  my  shoulder,  or  interfering  with  the 
cards. 

All  these  things  passed  through  my  mind  the  instant  I 
heard  a  person  entering  the  cabin.  It  would  not  answer 
for  us  to  be  seen  near  Soule's  door,  so  I  pointed  to  the 
sofa,  and  whispered  the  colonel  to  take  a  seat. 

To  my  surprise  as  well  as  pleasure,  the  colonel  obeyed 
me  with  the  utmost  alacrity,  and  without  a  word. 

We  had  but  just  taken  our  seats  when  the  lank,  bilious 
rebel  agent  entered  the  cabin.  I  hastily  began  a  con- 


92  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

versation  with  the  colonel  on  the  first  subject  that  entered 
my  mind,  and  we  appeared  as  though  very  deeply  inter- 
ested in  it. 

"  Holloa  !  "  said  the  agent ;  "  what  do  you  remain  here 
for  when  the  night  is  so  pleasant  on  deck  ?  " 

"  Because  we  have  been  so  much  interested  in  conversa- 
tion that  we  had  forgotten  how  pleasant  it  is  up  there," 
I  answered ;  and  the  colonel,  taking  the  hint,  rambled  on 
respecting  some  of  the  battles  he  had  been  engaged  in,  and 
the  large  number  of  Yankees  he  had  slaughtered  during 
certain  charges  of  his  cavalry  at  Bull  Run  and  Ball's  Bluff. 

"  Well,"  said  the  rebel  commissioner,  after  he  had 
listened  for  a  moment,  "  I'll  leave  you  to  talk,  while  I 
light  a  cigar,  and  go  on  deck.  I've  heard  of  those  battles 
before." 

I  think  he  had  heard  the  colonel  relate  the  exploits 
which  he  had  performed  in  those  battles  until  he  was  a 
little  tired  of  the  subject.  Man  is  such  an  envious  mortal,, 
that  he  does  not  like  to  listen  to  personal  exploits  unless 
the  narrator  is  as  modest  as  he  is  brave.  The  colonel  was 
not  a  modest  man,  by  any  means ;  but,  according  to  his 
own  accounts,  he  was  as  brave  as  any  officer  in  the  con- 
federate service. 

The  bilious-looking  agent  lighted  his  cigar,  and  went 
on  deck ;  and  glad  enough  I  was  to  get  rid  of  him,  for  I 
was  desirous  of  paying  my  respects  to  the  colonel.  As 
soon,  therefore,  as  the  agent  had.  left  the  cabin,  I  turned 
to  him,  and  said,  — 

"  You  see  that  I  have  spared  you ;  I  have  thus  far 
refrained  from  exposing  you  ;  but  pity  for  your  daughter 
has  prevented  me.  Now,  will  you  do  what  is  right?  " 

"I  am  sure  my  daughter  has  a  great  regard  for  you," 
replied  he  with  a  quick  look  at  my  face,  as  though  to  judge 
what  effect  such  an  announcement  would  have. 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it,"   I  replied,  with  some  show  of 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  9^ 

pleasure  —  just  enough  to  make  him  think   that  I   was 
flattered. 

"  Yes  ;  she  noticed  you  the  first  day  that  you  came  on 
board,  when  I  shook  hands  with  you  for  denouncing  the 
Yankees." 

During  all  the  time  that  we  were  on  the  sofa,  I  had 
closely  watched  the  movements  of  the  colonel,  although 
he  had  not  been  aware  of  the  fact.  The  corner  of  one 
eye  had  been  on  him  ;  and  I  had  seen  some  of  his  motions, 
sly  and  cautious  as  they  were. 

I  remained  quiet  until  satisfied  that  he  had  gone  too  far 
to  recede,  when  I  said,  — 

"  Colonel,  we  will  resume  our  conversation,  if  you  please 
You  have  entered  a  passenger's  state-room,  and  stolen 
papers.  I  shall  expose  you  within  ten  minutes  unless  you 
return  them  to  the  carpet-bag." 

"  You  apply  a  harsh  term  to  a  little  joke  of  mine.'' 

"  You  will  find  it  no  joke,  I  assure  you.  Will  you 
decide  what  you  do?  Come  ;  time  is  getting  short." 

"You  are  a  funny  man,"  said  the  colonel,  with  a  horri- 
ble attempt  at  a  smile.  "I  suppose  that  I  must  comply 
with  your  request.  I  will  go  at  once." 

As  he  moved  towards  the  state-room,  a  bright  thought 
entered  my  head,  and  I  commanded  him  to  stop. 

"  If  you  return  the  papers  to  the  bag,"  I  said,  "  and 
then  leave  the  latter  in  the  state-room,  Soule  will  know 
that  some  one  has  meddled  with  his  private  affairs." 

"  That  is  so,"  the  colonel  answered.  "  What  had  I  best 
do?" 

"  Put  the  papers  in  the  bag,  and  drop  it  out  of  th* 
cabin  window.  All  evidence  of  fraud  will  then  be  de 
stroyed." 

"By  George!  that  is  an  idea,"  cried  the  colonel,  hi j 
face  expressing  great  signs  of  relief.     "  No  one  will  eve' 
suspect  us  if  we  resort  to  such  a  dodge." 
7 


94  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  No  one  will  suspect  you>  I  suppose  you  mean,"  I  said, 
with  the  air  of  a  fire-cater.  "  Recollect,  sir,  I  hf.ve  not 
dishonored  the  Palmetto  State  by  stealing  private  papers." 

This  made  him  wince  a  little,  and  I  thought  I  heard 
him  utter  a  damn  on  the  fate  of  the  State  which  I  repre- 
sented. 

"  Yes,  of  course,"  he  said.  "  It's  all  right.  I  meant  that 
I  alone  was  to  blame.  I  will  never  do  so  again,  if  you 
will  not  expose  me  this  time." 

"  Well,  well:  drop  the  bag  overboard;  and  for  your 
daughter's  sake,  I  will  pledge  my  word  not  to  utter  a 
syllable  regarding  this  matter.  Be  quiet  about  it." 

He  made  a  desperate  effort  to  take  my  hand;  but  I 
refused  him  with  such  a  haughty  glance  of  disdain,  that 
he  appeared  to  wilt  under  it ;  and,  without  another  word, 
went  into  the  state-room. 

No  sooner  had  he  disappeared  than  I  returned  to  the 
sofa,  inserted  my  hand  under  the  cushion,  and  pulled  out 
a  package  of  papers  which  I  had  seen  the  colonel  place 
there  when  he  thought  I  was  not  noting  his  movements. 

Thrusting  the  papers  in  my  bosom,  and  thinking  how 
surprised  the  colonel  would  be  when  he  found  them  gone, 
I  returned  to  the  state-room  door  just  as  the  Virginian  was 
coming  out  with  the  carpet-bag. 

"  I  have  it,"  he  said. 

"  So  I  see,"  I  replied.     "  Now  overboard  with  it." 

He  did  not  wait  for  a  second  bidding ;  but,  stepping  to 
the  open  cabin  window,  threw  it  out,  and,  as  it  struck 
the  water,  gave  a  chuckle  that  seemed  strange  to  me. 

"  Were  the  papers  in  it  ?  "  I  asked,  in  a  whisper. 

"  Yes  ;  "  with  a  face  that  looked  quite  composed 
truthful. 

"  Not  one  left  ?" 

"  Not  one." 

M  Upon  your  word  and  honor  ?  " 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  95 

"  Upon  my  word  and  honor." 

"  What  a  precious  liar  you  are  !  "  I  thought.  "  I  won- 
der if  all  the  first  families  of  Virginia  are  as  bad." 

"  Now,  we  will  keep  this  thing  a  secret  ?  "  whispered 
the  colonel.  "  That  is  understood,  I  believe." 

uYes.  But  tell  me  one  thing.  Why  did  you  rob 
Sould?" 

"  Of  course  you  want  to  know  the  truth  ?  "  he  began. 

"  Certainly." 

"  Well,  sir,  I  belong  to  one  of  the  first  families  of 
Viiginia  —  " 

"  So  I  have  heard  you  say  before,"  I  interrupted.  "  Do 
all  take  articles  that  don't  belong  to  them  ?  " 

The  colonel  winced  again;  but  in  a  moment  he  was 
composed,  and  replied,  — 

"  I  have  all  a  parent's  feelings,  sir ;  and,  when  T  saw 
Soule  was  so  marked  in  his  attention  to  my  daughter,  1 
determined  to  learn  more  about  him  than  he  was  willing 
to  admit.  For  that  reason  I  entered  his  state-room ;  on 
account  of  my  affection  for  my  child,  I  took  the  papers, 
intending  to  return  them  after  I  had  learned  something  in 
regard  to  his  prospects." 

I  bowed  with  mock  gravity. 

;'  How  do  I  know,"  he  continued,  "  but  that  he  is  a 
base  Yankee  spy,  or  a  traitor  to  our  Southern  Confederacy  ? ' ' 

"  To  be  sure,"  I  replied.  "  Those  who  talk  the  loudest 
are  not  always  the  most  zealous  patriots." 

I  thought  that  the  Virginia  colonel  seemed  a  little  cut 
at  this  remark ;  for  he  added,  in  a  hasty  tone,  — 

"  I  hope  that  you  don't  suspect  me  of  not  being  a  true 
friend  of  the  South.  I've  given  my  blood  for  the  cause, 
and  would  give  my  life  rather  than  see  it  dishonored." 

"  Those  are  proper  sentiments,  sir,"  I  replied,  "  and  I 
respect  you  for  them.  But  we've  no  time  to  talk  further 
on  this  subject.  We  must  return  on  deck  in  order  to 


9G  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

avoid  suspicion.  Keep  your  secret,  and  I  will  retain  it  with 
you.  I  am  doing  wrong  ;  but,  for  your  daughter's  sake, 
I'd  do  much  more." 

"  Do  you  really  love  her  ?  "  asked  the  colonel,  in  an  anx- 
ious tone,  as  though  sympathizing  with  me. 

"No  matter  what  my  feelings  are,  sir,"  I  answered, 
crustily.  "  I  respect  the  lady  ;  and  I  wish  I  could  say  as 
much  for  the  father." 

With  these  words  I  left  the  cabin,  and  went  on  deck, 
followed  by  the  colonel,  whose  lameness  and  feebleness 
increased  in  a  surprising  degree  as  he  prepared  to  join  his 
daughter,  who  was  still  enchanting  Soul£  by  the  witchery 
of  her  eyes  and  smiles. 

I  found  Bowmount  smoking,  and  mentally  speculating 
on  the  prospects  of  running  the  blockade  with  a  load  of 
useful  articles ;  so  I  lighted  a  cigar,  and  took  a  seat  by  his 
side ;  but  not  a  word  did  I  utter  respecting  the  events  of 
the  evening  ;  and  when  I  was  ready  to  seek  my  berth,  I 
looked  over  the  papers  which  had  been  taken  from  Soul^'s 
carpet  bag,  and  found  them  of  the  utmost  importance. 

They  contained  information  respecting  the  number  of 
soldiers  in  the  field  ;  the  men  to  be  raised  without  de- 
lay ;  the  naval  ships  that  were  building  and  fitting  out ; 
a  long  list  of  names  of  parties  who  were  to  be  relied  on  as 
ready  to  assist  the  South  with  sympathy,  money,  or  by 
engaging  in  blockade  running.  I  saw  some  prominent 
men  on  that  list ;  but  it  will  not  do  to  mention  them,  as 
they  are,  at  the  present  time,  all  good  patriots,  and,  accord- 
ing to  their  own  assertion,  have  been  so  from  the  first. 

Among  the  papers  I  found  letters  addressed  to  Jeff 
Davis,  to  General  Lee,  and  others ;  and  all  told  the  same 
lying  story  of  admiration  for  the  South,  and  contempt  and 
detestation  for  the  North. 

I  almost  sickened  at  the  baseness  that  was  exhibited  ; 
but  nevertheless  folded  the  papers,  and  put  them  in  a 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  97 

secure  place  where  no  one  would  have  thought  of  L  >1  ing, 
and  then  turned  in,  and  went  to  sleep. 

The  next  morning  at  the  breakfast-table,  thvj  burly 
Englishman  who  commanded  the  steamer,  after  rapping 
on  his  plate,  said,  — 

"  Gentlemen,  somethin'  serious  'as  'appened  on  board 
the  steamer." 

All  the  passengers  dropped  their  knives  and  forks,  and 
looked  as  though  prepared  to  rush  on  deck  at  a  moment's 
notice. 

"Lor',  captain,"  cried  Miss  Rhett,  with  a  pretty  little 
giggle  ;  "  I  hope  the  vessel  is  not  on  fire." 

"  No,  ma'am ;  there's  no  fire  except  what  you  'ave 
kindled  in  the  'earts  of  the  passengers ;  "  and  the  red- 
faced  captain  put  his  hand  upon  his  breast,  aud  grinned 
like  a  sea  lion  with  the  toothache. 

Miss  Rhett  giggled  more  than  ever ;  and  then,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  finding  all  eyes  were  direcied  towards 
her,  blushed  scarlet,  and  looked  a  little  uncomfortable. 

I  suspected  what  was  coming,  so  braced  myself  for  the 
shock,  and  assmued  as  innocent  and  independent  an  air  as 
an  impudent  man  could  put  on. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  the  beef-eating  captain,  when  the 
titter  had  subsided,  "  one  of  the  state-rooms  was  entered 
yesterday,  and  a  lot  of  papers  stolen  from  it." 

"  Valuable  papers  ?  "  asked  Colonel  Rhett,  with  an  air 
of  much  concern. 

"  They  was  waluable,  sir,"  responded  the  captain,  in  an 
emphatic  tone.  "  So  waluable,  in  fact,  that  I  don't  think 
the  gent  what  lost  'em  would  have  sold  'em  for  any  money." 

"  Who  lost  them  ?  "  was  the  general  cry  from  those  at 
the  table. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  the  captain,  after  a  mordent's  thought, 
"I'll  let  the  person  what  lost  the  property  speak  for 
himself." 


98  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

I  knew  what  was  coming,  but  assumed  an  air  of  deep 
concern,  as  Soule",  with  sullen  looks,  said,  — 

"  Some  one  has  entered  my  state-room,  and  stolen  a 
carpet  bag  containing  valuable  papers.  If  any  one  did  it 
as  a  joke,  it  has  gone  far  enough  ;  if  with  criminal  inten- 
tions, I  can  assure  the  thief  that  the  papers  are  worth  more 
to  me  than  to  any  other  person." 

"  If  there  are  thieves  on  board,  it  is  time  that  we  knew 
something  of  it,"  remarked  Colonel  Rhett,  banging  his 
fist  down  on  the  table,  and  looking  around  on  his  fellow- 
passengers  with  an  angry  scowl. 

"  Now,  papa,  do  be  quiet,"  pleaded  the  daughter.  "  You 
must  not  get  so  excited  on  the  subject." 

If  I  had  not  seen  the  colonel  enter  and  leave  the  state 
room,  and  if  I  had  not  taken  charge  of  the  papers  which 
he  secreted  under  the  sofa  cushion,  I  should  have  been 
deceived  by  the  manner  in  which  he  attempted  to  throw 
suspicion  from  his  own  shoulders.  His  face  wore  such  a 
virtuous  look,  that  I  knew  no  one  would  question  his 
honesty. 

"  You  have  lost  papers,"  Bowmount  said,  during  a 
pause,  after  Soule's  explanation.  "  Now,  if  any  one  took 
'em  for  a  joke,  they'll  say  so,  and  so  end  the  matter.  But, 
as  no  one  says  so,  we  must  conclude  that  they  have  bsen 
stolen.  Shucks !  what  must  we  do  ?  Just  this :  Let 
some  one  search  our  state-rooms,  and  see  if  he  can  find 
the  carpet  bag  and  papers.  Here  is  the  key  to  mine." 

We  all  followed  his  example,  and  threw  our  keys  upon 
the  table. 

"  Who'll  do  the  searching?  "  some  one  asked. 

No  one  answered.  The  colonel,  in  a  modest  manner,  as 
became  one  of  the  first  families  of  Virginia,  looked  on  his 
plate,  then  whispered  to  his  daughter. 

"  O,  no,  papa.  Let  some  one  younger  than  you  under- 
take so  painful  a  task.  Do  not  think  of  it." 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  99 

Of  course,  after  such  an  expression,  all  hands  declared 
hat  the  colonel  was  just  the  person  to  undertake  the 
mission  ;  and  I  must  confess  that  I  joined  in  the  general , 
cry  with  much  satisfaction,  while  at  the  same  time  I 
thought  the  Virginian  the  most  arrant  hypocrite  I  had 
ever  seen,  and  I  longed  to  tell  him  so  ;  but,  recollecting 
that  I  was  also  acting  a  part,  and  a  very  deceptive  one,  1 
concluded  to  restrain  my  virtuous  indignation  until  I  could 
appear  in  a  new  light. 

So,  in  a  few  words,  it  was  settled  that  the  old  colonel 
should  overhaul  the  passengers'  baggage,  and  report  as 
soon  as  possible. 

"  He's  to  do  it,  is  he  ?  "  asked  Bowmount,  as  we  moved 
from  the  table. 

"  Yes ;  all  hands  seem  to  decide  for  him." 

"  Well,  then  I'll  just  move  some  bills  of  exchange  from 
my  trunk,  and  pat  'em  in  a  safe  place.  Come  and  see  me 
do  it.  Shucks !  there  shan't  be  no  cheating  ;  only  I  don't 
want  strangers  overhauling  my  money  matters." 

The  Kentuckian  uttered  these  words  in  a  low  tone, 
but  the  Virginian  heard  him,  and  would  have  made  an 
angry  rejoinder  if  I  had  not  checked  him  with  a  look  ;  for 
it  was  not  for  my  interest  to  provoke  a  discussion  at  that 
time.  I  feared  the  colonel  in  his  rage  would  involve  me 
in  a  row,  and  that  was  just  what  I  did  not  desire.  As 
long  as  I  remained  quiet,  and  did  not  wound  the  preju- 
dices of  my  fellow-passengers,  I  was  called  a  clever  fellow, 
and  all  that ;  but  I  knew  that  it  would  not  endure  if  I  was 
conspicuous. 

We  lighted  our  cigars,  and  went  on  deck,  while  the 
colonel  commenced  his  agreeable  task  of  overhauling  the 
passengers'  luggage  —  looking  into  their  boots,  handling 
their  soiled  linen,  and  doing  other  things  which  were  of  a 
light  and  agreeable  nature  to  a  man  who  was  disposed  to 
exercise  a  general  supervision  over  the  affairs  of  others. 


100  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

But,  long  before  the  colonel  had  concluded  his  investiga- 
tion, there  was  a  cry  of  "  Land,  ho  !  "  and  the  island  of 
New  Providence  was  in  sight  —  low,  flat,  but  still  inviting 
to  those  who  had  experienced  the  horrors  of  sea-sickness. 

Our  passengers  were  enthusiastic  as  we  approached  the 
town,  passing  several  long,  low,  fast-looking  steamers,  on 
our  way  to  the  inner  anchorage ;  all  from  England,  all 
painted  lead  color,  and  all  waiting  for  dark  nights  so  that 
the  blockade  could  be  run,  or  attempted  with  less  risk  of 
detection  than  on  moonlight  evenings. 

Floating  from  the  peak  of  each  steamer  was  the  con- 
federate flag,  and  from  the  fore,  the  English  flag  ;  the 
latter  in  compliment  to  British  neutrality.  As  we  slowly 
steamed  past  the  vessels,  our  passengers  cheered  in  a  lusty 
manner,  and  pretty  Miss  Rhett  clapped  her  hands,  and 
declared  that  it  was  the  prettiest  sight  she  had  ever  seen  ; 
while  her  father,  the  gray-headed  old  colonel,  who  be- 
longed to  one  of  the  first-family  tribe,  took  off  his  hat, 
and  waved  it  in  such  a  hearty  manner,  that  I  suspected 
he  must  have  money  invested  in  the  blockade-running 
business,  and  was  afraid  he  should  lose  a  portion  of  it 
unless  he  was  enthusiastic. 

At  last  the  captain  touched  a  bell,  the  wheels  were 
stopped,  the  anchor  dropped,  and  into  the  shore-boats  we 
tumbled,  and  landed  at  Nassau. 

"Come,"  growled  the  Kentuckian,  after  we  had  ac- 
knowledged a  cheer  for  the  Southern  Confederacy,  "  let's 
go  to  the  Royai  Humbug  Hotel,  and  see  what  kind  of 
quarters  we  can  obtain." 

And  off  we  started  for  the  best  hotel  in  town,  followed 
by  a  crowd  of  dirty  little  boys,  each  anxious  to  show  the 
way,  and  earn  a  piece  of  silver. 

It  was  not  difficult  to  find  the  Royal  Humbug  Hotel. 
A  dozen  people,  after  learning  that  we  were  not  Federals,, 
that  we  belonged  south  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line,  were 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  101 

glad  enough  to  point  out  the  spot  where  the  house  was 
located,  and,  in  course  of  half  an  hour  after  we  landed, 
we  were  registering  our  names  on  the  books  of  the  hotel ; 
while,  at  the  same  time,  we  were  surrounded  by  a  dozen 
or  more  young  men,  all  eager  for  news,  and  laying  claim 
to  the  most  rabid  secession  principles,  as  though  there 
were  some  doubts  as  to  their  patriotism. 

Finally  the  gong  sounded  for  dinner,  and  there  was  a 
rush  from  all  parts  of  the  building  equalling  anything  that 
I  had  ever  seen  in  a  New  York  hotel.  Bowmount  thrust 
his  arm  through  mine,  and  in  we  went  to  dine,  where  I 
noted  the  confeds  as  they  flocked  in  to  the  table.  There 
were  about  fifty  of  them,  male  and  female ;  and,  while 
the  former  were  inclined  to  be  a  little  reserved,  surround- 
ing themselves  with  a  haughty  exclusiveness,  the  latter, 
although  equally  proud,  were  as  chatty  as  so  many  parrots, 
and  during  the  exchange  of  remarks  I  noted  that  the 
Yankees  caught  it  most  unmercifully.  Heavens  I  how 
those  women  did  revile  them,  and  stamp  on  them  with 
their  pretty  little  feet,  and  tear  them  to  pieces,  and  stab 
them  with  their  tongues !  and  all  the  while  the  men  seemed 
to  enjoy  it,  and  listened  in  approving  silence. 

But  at  last  I  saw  that  Bowmount,  who  had  drank 
enough  to  feel  independent,  and  as  bold  as  a  Kentucky 
tobacco-raiser  usually  is,  had  his  attention  attracted  by 
something  that  one  of  the  pretty  little  females  uttered. 
His  dark  eyes  glared,  and  his  heavy  face  lighted  up  as  if 
by  inspiration,  as  he  swallowed  a  glass  of  wine,  and  then 
addressed  the  lady  who  was  nearly  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  table. 

"You  don't  like  the  Yanks,  mum?  "'he  asked  in  a 
loud  tone,  so  loud  that  the  attention  of  all  at  the  table 
was  attracted. 

"  No,  sir,  I  don't !  "  with  a  snarl,  and  a  curl  of  he* 
thin  lips. 


102  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"You  nev3r  seed  much  of  'em,  did  you?"  continued 
the  impudent  Kentuckian. 

"  No,  sir  ;  and  I  d&n't  want  to.  The  miserable  Yankees 
are  not  fit  associates  for  a  Southern  born  and  bred  lady." 

A  murmur  of  applause  was  heard  up  and  down  the 
table  on  the  part  of  the  females  present,  and  those  who 
applauded  the  loudest  attracted  the  most  attention. 
Among  the  most  vehement  applauders  of  the  sentiment  I 
noticed  Miss  Riiett,  the  daughter  of  the  gray-headed 
colonel. 

She  caught  my  glance,  and  smiled  a  friendly  recognition, 
as  though  she  did  not  want  the  friendship  to  end,  now  that 
we  were  on  shore. 

"  O,  they  ain't  fit  associates,  eh?  "  continued  Mr.  Bow- 
mount,  sipping  his  wine. 

"  No,  sir.  I  dislike  everything  that  belongs  to  the  Yan- 
kees. They  are  an  impudent  race  —  a  scheming  set  of 
savages,  without  refinement  or  manners.  Our  slaves  are 
far  better." 

"Just  so,  mum,"  the  Kentuckian  remarked;  "but, 
before  I  agrees  to  all  what  you  says,  let  me  ax  you  a  few 
questions." 

"  As  many  as  you  please,  sir,  if  it  is  for  the  purpose  of 
proving  the  Yankees  the  meanest  race  on  the  face  of  the 
earth.  But  first  let  me  know  whom  I  am  addressing?  " 

"  My  name  is  Isaac  Bowmount,  mum,  and  I  was  colonel 
of  the  Ninety-ninth  Regiment  of  Kentucky  Cavalry.  I 
served  a  year  in  the  confederate  army,  and  left  when  my 
time  expired.  You  won't  accuse  me  of  being  a  Yankee  — 
will  you?  " 

He  smiled  as  though  to  invite  her  confidence,  and  the 
announcement  of  his  rank  was  enough  to  secure  it.  She 
bestowed  a  keen  glance  upon  the  Kentuckian,  and  so  did 
the  owners  of  other  bright  eyes. 

"  Yes,"  said  Bowmount,  in  a  musing  tone,   but  loud 


THE  KENTTJCKIAN'S  QUARREL.  —  Page  105. 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  103 

enough  for  all  to  hear,  "  I  has  fit  against  the  Yankees, 
and  I  must  confess  that  I  don't  like  their  style  of  fightiu'." 

"  There  I  there's  good  testimony  to  what  I  have  said," 
cried  the  Southern  girl  in  triumph.  "Just  hear  what  the 
colonel  says." 

"  Yes,"  continued  the  Kentuckian.  "I  don't  like  theii 
style  of  doing  things.  When  the  Yankees  fight,  they 
seem  to  be  in  earnest  about  it,  and  don't  care  if  they  do 
kill  all  who  stands  before  'em.  I  have  been  in  several 
fights,  and,  in  all  but  one,  the  Yankees  licked  us.  We 
started  'em  at  Bull  Run,  but  they  touched  us  up  in  West- 
ern Virginia  and  Tennessee ;  and  I  must  confess,  that, 
when  the  Yanks  come  at  us  with  fixed  bagonets,  our  men 
was  allers  inclined  to  run,  and  hang  me  if  some  of  the 
officers  didn't  lead  the  way  I  " 

"  More  shame  for  them !  "  cried  the  indignant  young 
lady  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  table  ;  and  the  gentleman 
who  sat  by  her  side  —  her  husband  or  brother,  I  could  not 
just  tell  in  which  relation  he  stood  —  seemed  to  coincide 
with  her. 

"  Yes,"  resumed  Bowmount,  in  a  dogmatical  manner, 
after  glancing  along  the  table,  and  seeing  that  all  present 
were  listening ;  "  it  was  a  shame  for  Southern-bom  men 
to  run  at  the  sight  of  Yankees ;  but  you  know  that, 
unless  some  of  us  had  took  to  our  heels  we  shouldn't  have 
been  here  eatin'  turtle  and  drinkin'  claret.  In  fact,  I 
think  it  more  honor  to  try  and  fight  and  run  away,  than 
not  make  any  appearance  of  fightin',  but  skulk  out  of  the 
country  as  soon  as  a  shot  is  fired !  " 

This  was  a  hard  hit,  aud  I  saw  some  of  the  young 
fellows  squirm  ;  but  they  looked  as  though  they  were  not 
troubled,  and  continued  to  sip  their  wine.  To  my  sur- 
prise, the  lady  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  table  seemed  to 
agree  with  the  Kentuckian. 

"If  I  were  a  man,"  she  remarked,  "such  a  charge 
should  not  be  brought  against  me." 


104  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  No,  I  s'pose  not.  You  women  has  more  spunk  than 
the  men.  But  that  ain't  what  I  was  comin'  at.  I  want 
to  talk  with  you  about  the  Yanks." 

"  They  are  a  mean,  deceitful  people.  There  is  no 
gallantry,  or  refinement,  or  courage  about  them." 

This  sentiment  met  with  universal  applause  from  the 
ladies. 

"  Let's  see  about  that,"  said  Bowmount,  with  a  mis- 
chievous smile.  "  Whar  was  you  edicated,  mum  ?  " 

"  At  the  South,  sir,"  returned  she,  with  a  glow  of  pride. 

"Very  good,"  continued  he.     "  At  a  boardin'-school  ?  " 

"  No,  sir ;  my  father  employed  a  governess  as  teacher." 

"  And  whar  did  that  'ere  governess  and  teacher  come 
from  ?  " 

There  was  a  moment's  silence. 

"Shucks!"  continued  the  Kentuckian.  "No  backiii' 
out.  Honor  bright.  Come  up  to  the  scratch." 

There  was  another  pause,  when  she  replied,  hesitat- 
ingly, — 

"  I  think  she  came  from  Massachusetts." 

"  And  whar  did  the  piany  that  you  played  on  come 
from?" 

"  Boston,"  she  said,  in  a  low  tone,  after  a  moment's 
hesitation. 

"  And  whar  was  the  books  printed  that  you  learned 
from?" 

"  I  have  forgotten." 

"  Honor,  now." 

"You  are  pressing  the  lady  in  an  offensive  manner," 
said  the  man  who  sat  by  her  side,  noting  her  hesitancy. 

"  Never  you  mind,"  retorted  the  Kentuckian.  "  It's 
our  fight,  and  we  mean  to  keep  it  up  till  one  or  the  other 
of  us  cries  out  enough.  Now,  then,"  turning  to  the  lady, 
"  whar  was  the  books  printed  ?  " 

"  O,  they  were  Yankee  books!"  was  the  reluctant 
confession. 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  106 

"And  your  father  had  his  house  nicely  furnished  — 
didn't  ho  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  And  whar  was  the  furniture  made  ?  "  continued  the 
persistent  Kentuckian. 

"  In  New  York,"  replied  the  lady,  in  a  more  sullen  tone. 

"  And  now,"  cried  Bowmount  exultantly, "  you  pretends 
to  despise  the  Yankees  for  the  want  of  refinement  and 
courage ;  and  yet  you  have  just  showed  that  all  the  articles 
of  luxury  and  larnin'  that  you  ever  heard  of  or  knew 
auything  about  come  from  the  land  of  the  Yankees ! 
That's  jist  about  as  much  sense  as  some  o'  you  Southern 
women  has  got." 

The  young  lady  looked  her  rage,  and  then  turned  her 
glance  to  the  man  at  her  side  as  if  appealing  for  protection. 

He  answered  it  in  the  usual  Southern  style  —  without 
thought  or  consideration,  or  without  a  care  as  to  who  was 
right  and  who  was  wrong.  Filling  a  glass  with  claret,  he 
suddenly  lifted  it  from  the  table,  and  dashed  both  the  glass 
and  its  contents  into  the  face  of  the  plain-spoken  Ken- 
tuckian. 

The  surprise  was  so  complete,  that  for  a  moment  I 
almost  fancied  that  I  was  the  party  insulted,  for  a  few 
drops  of  the  liquor  touched  my  face  ;  but  all  doubts  on  the 
subject  were  set  at  rest  in  an  instant;  for  Bowmount 
sprang  to  his  feet  with  an  angry  oath,  and,  seizing  the 
claret-bottle  that  stood  near  him,  dashed  it  full  at  the 
head  of  the  young  fellow  who  had  so  grossly  insulted  him. 

The  bottle  struck  the  Southerner  squarely  in  the  face, 
and  shivered  into  atoms;  and  with  the  thousand  pieces 
fell  the  young  man,  apparently  lifeless. 

Then  there  was  a  scene  in  the  dining-room  of  the  Royal 
Humbug  Hotel  that  had  seldom  been  equalled  since  the 
Southerners  took  possession  of  it. 

As  soon  as  Bowmount  had  sent  the  claret-bottle  on  its- 


106  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

way,  he  prepared  to  follow  it  right  across  the  table,  and  thus 
fall  upon  the  senseless  man  and  complete  his  punishment, 
just  as  though  the  fellow  had  not  been  sufficiently  dealt 
with. 

But  I  saw  the  movement  of  the  Kentuckian,  and, 
despite  the  hilt  of  the  bowie-knife  which  I  noticed  in  his 
pants,  caught  his  arm.  In  an  instant  the  man  had  his 
hand  free  of  my  grasp,  and  whipped  out  his  weapon. 

As  soon  as  he  found  his  hands  free,  the  infuriated  man 
once  more  turned  his  attention  to  the  prostrate  Southerner 
at  the  other  side  of  the  table.  By  his  side  was  kneeling 
the  young  lady  whose  free  speech  had  caused  all  the 
trouble.  By  the  words  which  she  uttered  in  her  despair, 
I  saw  that  she  was  a  wife,  and  that  the  person  that  she 
was  so  tender  of  was  her  husband. 

As  Bowmount  gathered  his  forces  for  a  rush,  I  hastily 
glanced  around  to  see  if  any  one  was  disposed  to  lend  me 
a  helping  hand.  To  my  surprise,  no  one  stepped  forward. 
Even  the  colonel  retained  his  seat ;  but  his  amiable  daugh- 
ter was  mounted  on  a  chair,  so  that  she  could  command  a 
good  view  of  the  fight,  and  bestow  applause  where  it 
belonged. 

I  had  tune  to  see  this  much,  and  no  more  ;  for  my  atten- 
tion was  turned  to  the  Kentuckian,  who  sprang  on  a 
chair,  and  was  just  about  to  leap  over  the  table,  when 
I  caught  hold  of  his  coat-tail,  and  pulled  him  back.  He 
turned  suddenly,  to  see  who  was  opposing  him  ;  and,  just 
as  he  aimed  a  blow  at  my  head  with  his  formidable  weapon, 
I  overturned  the  chair,  and  down  the  brawny  fellow  fell 
with  a  crash,  carrying  dishes  and  a  portion  of  the  table 
with  him. 

Before  Bowmount  could  gain  his  feet,  I  had  his  knife, 
and  was  holding  him  down  by  main  force.     He  strug- 
gled violently,  and  I  thought  it  necessary  to  be  rude. 
.  I  put  the  knife  to  his  neck,  and  said,  in  a  determined 
tone, — 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  107 

"  If  you  don't  keep  quiet,  I'll  cut  your  throat  as  sure 
as  you  live." 

This  threat  astonished  him.  He  ceased  his  struggles, 
and  looked  at  me  as  though  to  note  if  I  was  in  earnest. 

"  Do  you  mean  it  ?  "  he  asked. 

"Yes  ;  and  I'll  do  it,  too,  unless  you  listen  to  reason." 

"  I  didn't  think  this  of  you,"  the  Kentuckian  said,  after 
a  moment's  silence,  during  which  he  remained  quiet. 

"  Perhaps  I  could  return  the  compliment.  A  man  who 
makes  a  cut  at  me  with  a  knife  don't  deserve  much  con- 
sideration." 

"  Wall,  I  didn't  mean  to  do  it ;  so  forgive  me,  and  let 
me  up." 

"  Will  you  promise  to  behave  in  a  quiet  manner?  " 

"Yes.  Keep  the  knife  as  security  that  I'll  do  right. 
Shucks !  don't  bother  a  feller  now." 

"I  think  he's  still  dangerous,"  muttered  one  of  the 
Southerners. 

"  He  should  be  given  in  custody  without  delay,"  con- 
tinued another  ;  but,  without  listening  to  such  remarks,  I 
released  the  Kentuckian,  and  allowed  him  to  rise. 

"Humph!"  he  growled,  as  he  gained  his  feet,  and 
shook  himself,  "  you  couldn't  have  done  it,  old  feller,  unless 
you  had  played  me  a  trick.  I  can  throw  you  with  a  fair 
hold,  and  make  nothin'  of  it." 

"  We  won't  discuss  the  matter  at  the  present  time. 
One  of  these  days  I'll  give  you  a  trial." 

"  That's  all  right.  What  do  you  want  by  pressing  round 
me  so  —  eh  ?  "  'and  Bowmount  turned  on  the  crowd  that 
was  near  him,  all  of  them  wearing  threatening  looks,  and 
appearing  as  though  half  disposed  to  assault  him. 

The  chivalry  retired  a  short  distance,  for  they  feared 
that  the  Kentuckian  would  resort  to  some  of  the  bottles 
on  the  table,  and  break  their  heads  in  regular  order. 

"  Keep  quiet,"  I  said.     u  You  have  done  mischief  enough 


108  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

for   one  day.     I  think  you  have  killed  the  man  on  the 
other  side  of  the  table." 

"  And  serve  him  right  if  I  have.  What  right  had  he 
to  shove  in  his  oar,  and  throw  wine  in  my  face  ?  I  tell  you, 
Barnwell,  if  that  feller  gets  on  his  feet  again,  I'll  have 
another  peck  at  him  —  you  see  if  I  don't/' 

"  And  if  he  don't  shoot  you  at  sight,  I  will,"  returned 
the  lady,  who  had  been  kneeling  by  her  husband's  side. 
"  O,  you  brute  !  You  deserve  to  be  kicked  by  Yankees 
for  your  conduct ! ' ' 

"  Shucks  !  and  what  does  the  feller  deserve  for  throwing 
wine  in  my  face  ?  ''  indignantly  demanded  the  Kentuckian. 

"  I  believe  he  is  a  base  Yankee  spy,"  some  one  said ; 
and,  looking  for  the  person,  I  found  that  it  was  Miss  Rhett 
who  had  spoken. 

The  idea  was  seized  upon  in  an  instant,  and  passed 
from  one  to  the  other ;  and  then  the  fair  dames  scowled 
at  the  Kentuckian  more  vindictively  than  ever,  and  there 
were  some  threats  of  shooting  the  man  on  the  spot ;  but  a' 
length  I  managed  to  get  him  out  of  the  room,  just  as  ar 
English  surgeon  arrived  to  attend  to  the  injured  person. 

"Now  go  to  your   chamber,   and  remain    there    unt: 
to  morrow,"  I  said,  as  we  closed  the  dining-room  door 
"  You  have  raised  a  confounded  row,  and  I  must  do  tbo 
best  I  can  to  end  it." 

"  Tell  'em,"  said  the  Kentuckian,  as  he  laid  one  of  his 
heavy  hands  on  my  shoulder,  "  that  they  are  a  set  of  con- 
founded sneaks,  and  that  I'll  fight  the  whole  of  'em,  one 
at  a  time,  whenever  they  wants  rne  to.  Shucks !  Talk 
about  mean  Yankees  I  Why,  them  fellers  is  ten  times 
meaner  than  the  worse  Yankee  that  I  ever  seed.  A  Yan- 
kee don't  pitch  wine  into  your  face,  and  then  cry  baby 
'cos  you  knocks  him  down.  But  there's  no  use  talkin'. 
Come  to  my  room,  and  let's  have  a  bottle  of  wine." 

I  refused  to  accept  his  proposal,  but  it  made  no  difference 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  109 

in  the  man's  feelings.  I  left  him,  and  entered  the  dining- 
room,  where  I  was  received  with  a  chorus  of  approbation 
from  the  dark-eyed  women  who  were  assembled  there  — 
every  one  of  them  rank  little  rebels. 

"0,  Lieutenant  Barnwell!"  said  the  lady  whose  hus- 
band was  injured  by  the  bottle  which  Bowmount  threw, 
" how  can  I  thank  you  for  what  you  have  done?  You 
have  saved  my  husband's  life  by  your  courage  and  c^n^uct. 
That  brutal  man  would  have  killed  him.  I  don't  Anow 
but  that  he  will  die,  as  it  is,  from  the  effects  of  his  injuries.' 

As  I  moved  along  the  room  to  the  spot  where  the  South- 
erner was  lying,  I  was  congratulated  on  all  sides,  and 
suddenly  found  that  I  was  quite  a  hero  in  their  eyes. 
Even  Mr.  Newton  Fudge,  the  confederate  agent,  a  native 
of  Tennessee, —  the  same  man  whose  head  Parson  Brown- 
low  had  threatened  to  punch  for  cheating  in  selling  ne- 
groes, or  some  shrewd  election  trick,  —  came  to  me,  and 
extended  his  hand. 

"Lieutenant,"  he  said,  "  I  have  all  along  thought  that 
you  was  nearly  destitute  of  snap  and  spunk,  and  that  you 
was  leaving  the  South  to  avoid  fighting.  But  now  I  kno^v 
different." 

"  It  was  well  done !  "  cried  Colonel  Rhett,  hobbling 
towards  me.  "  I  never  saw  but  one  thing  that  equalled  it. 
At  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  a  Federal  officer  made  at  me 
with  a  sabre  in  one  hand,  and  pistol  in  the  other.  I —  " 

I  never  heard  the  fate  of  that  Federal  officer,  for  I 
passed  on.  I  had  no  doubt  in  my  mind,  at  the  time, 
that  Colonel  Rhett  escaped  from  the  fury  of  that  Federal 
officer  by  the  speed  of  his  horse,  or  else  he  used  his  legs 
to  good  purpose. 

When  I  gained  the  side  of  the  injured  man,  I  found 
that  a  surgeon  was  busily  engaged  in  binding  up  his 
wounds ;  and  bad  enough  some  of  them  were.  The 
\x>ttle  had  broken  when  it  touched  his  face,  and  the  sharp 


110  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

edges  of  the  pieces  had  lacerated  the  skin  iii  a  terrible 
manner,  ^so  that  much  blood  had  flown,  and  the  man 
really  looked  in  a  dangerous  condition. 

He  was  in  no  mood  to  talk  ;  so,  when  informed  by  his 
wife  that  I  was  his  "  preserver,"  he  merely  pressed  my 
hand  in  token  of*  his  thanks ;  and  then  I  advised  an 
immediate  removal  to  his  room,  where  he  could  no  longer 
be  annoyed  by  the  crowd,  and  where  his  injuries  could  be 
attended  to  in  a  proper  manner. 

"  We  shall  never  forget  you,  sir,"  the  wife  said,  and 
gave  me  her  hand  to  prove  it. 

I  gave  it  a  little  squeeze  to  show  that  I  appreciated  her 
favorable  opinion,  and  took  an  admiring  glance  at  her  face. 

Perhaps  Mrs.  Anthony  Gowen,  of  Augusta,  Ga.,  noted 
that  look  of  admiration,  and  was  not  disposed  to  feel  offend- 
ed at  it,  for  she  blushed  a  little  in  a  coy  manner,  and  once 
more  held  out  her  hand,  while  the  servants  and  a  few 
friends  were  helping  Mr.  Gowen  up  stairs  to  his  chamber. 

"  I  shall  always  be  grateful  to  South  Carolina  for  send- 
ing such  a  brave  son  to  our  aid,"  she  remarked,  with  a 
tiny  pressure  of  her  hand.  "  When  Southern  gentlemen 
from  other  States  stood  aloof,  fearful  of  danger,  you  risked 
your  life  to  save  my  husband.  South  Carolina  is  honored 
in  owning  such  a  sou." 

"  That  is  what  I  say !  ''  cried  the  Virginia  colonel,  who 
it  seems  had  been  standing  near,  listening  to  all  that  was 
said,  without  my  knowledge. 

"  Lieutenant  Barnwell,"  cried  the  colonel,  who  seemed 
reluctant  to  allow  me  a  moment's  conversation  with  the 
Georgia  lady,  "you  should  be  thanked  for  what  you  have 
done  this  afternoon  —  you  should  indeed." 

"  But  I  desire  no  thanks,  sir." 

"It  is  because  you  are  too  modest,  sir.  That  is  the 
reason.  I  never  saw  more  heroism,  even  at  Bull  Run, 
than  that  displayed  by  you  this  day." 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  Shall  I  offer  you  my  arm,  and  assist  you  up  stairs  ?  "  I 
asked  Mrs.  Gowen. 

I  saw  that  there  were  many  men  in  the  hall,  and  that 
they  were  inclined  to  block  the  way. 

She  laid  her  hand  on  my  arm  at  once  ;  and  then,  with 
a  bow  to  the  colonel  and  his  daughter,  we  went  up 
stairs  towards  her  room,  whither  her  husband  had  pre- 
ceded us. 

"  Will  you  come  in  ?  "  the  lady  asked  when  we  arrived 
at  her  door. 

"  No ;  not  at  present." 

"  You  will  call  in  the  course  of  the  evening,  sir  ?  " 

"  If  I  find  time,  I  shall  be  pleased  to."  . 

She  seemed  satisfied  with  this  answer  ;  and,  with  a  bow 
and  look  of  gratitude,  the  lady  entered  her  apartment. 

I  went  to  my  own  room,  entered,  and  locked  the  door. 
I  then  waited  for  darkness,  so  that  I  could  leave  the  house 
unnoticed ;  for  I  was  determined  to  have  an  interview 
with  the  American  consul  that  night,  and  place  in  his 
hands  the  valuable  papers  which  the  colonel  had  stolen 
from  Soule*,  and  which  I  had  secured  by  a  little  stratagem. 
I  also  had  other  information  to  impart,  and  desired  to  re- 
ceive some  light  on  important  points.  In  fact,  I  had  no 
doubt  but  that  the  consul  and  I  could  pass  a  half  hour 
quite  pleasantly,  and  for  the  benefit  of  our  government. 

At  nine  o'clock,  it  being  dark  enough  to  move  without 
fear  of  detection,  I  rolled  up  a  bundle  of  sailor  clothes,  — 
blue  shirt  and  pants,  —  and  then  removed  some  of  my 
superfluous  clothing,  together  with  my  watch  and  mon- 
ey, locked  them  up  in  my  trunk,  so  that  when  I  made 
my  toilet  in  the  open  air,  I  should  not  be  embarrassed  by 
fear  of  losing  what  little  property  I  had.  Then,  watching 
my  opportunity,  I  dropped  the  bundle  in  the  yard  near 
the  corner  of  the  hotel,  ami  stole  dcwn  the  back  stairs. 
Fortunately  I  was  unobserved;  and  taking  my  bundle,  I 


112  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

retreated  to  the  shadow  of  a  tree  some  distance  from  the 
house,  changed  my  clothes,  rolled  my  citizen's  dress  into 
a  ball,  and,  hiding  it  in  the  branches,  started  for  the 
American  consul's,  a  jolly-looking  sailor  to  all  appearances. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

AN  ENCOUNTER.  —  THE   STREETS   OP  NASSAU  AT  NIGHT. 

—  THE  AMERICAN  CONSUL.  —  A  ROW.  —  A  FOUL  BLOW. 

—  ON  A  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  —  AN  IMPRESSMENT.  —  A 
FRIEND     IN     NEED.  —  THE    SUSPICIOUS    STEAMER. — A 
SIGNAL.  —  HARRY  BLUFF   AND   HIS   STATION  IN  LIFE. 

THE  night  was  dark,  and  the  city  of  Nassau  is  not  par- 
ticularly brilliant  with  gas  and  candles ;  so  I  was  com- 
pelled to  feel  my  way,  in  a  measure,  as  far  as  the  sidewalks 
were  concerned.  Which  way  to  move,  or  what  direction 
I  should  steer,  was  more  than  I  could  tell.  I  had  not  the 
faintest  idea  where  the  American  consul  had  located  his 
office  or  house,  so  determined  to  inquire  of  the  first  person 
I  encountered.  For  five  minutes  I  walked  on  in  silence, 
and  then  came  to  the  harbor,  where  there  was  light  and 
more  people.  I  singled  out  a  sailor,  and  asked  him  if  he 
could  tell  me  where  the  American  consul  resided. 

The  blue-jacket  looked  at  me  in  surprise,  and  then 
raised  his  voice,  and  shouted  in  Jordey-like  tones,  — 

"  Eh  I  here  be  a  South  Spain  prig,  what  takes  the 
bread  out  our  mouths.  Let  us  duck  him." 

The  fellow  attempted  to  lay  hands  on  me,  but  I 
dropped  him  with  a  blow  that  made  him  see  stars. 

Before  any  of  his  shipmates,  all  belonging  to  one  of 
the  blockade  runners,  could  interfere,  I  was  off,  and, 
although  they  followed  me  for  a  distance,  shouting  out 


RUNNING   THE  BLOCKADE.  113 

that  I  was  a  Yankee  spy,  yet  I  managed  to  evade  them, 
and  once  more  considered  what  I  should  do  to  find  the 
person  I  was  in  search  of. 

By  this  time  I  was  aware  that  I  had  secured  a  reputa- 
tion, and  felt  that  it  would  not  answer  to  extend  it ;  but 
how  to  find  the  consul,  unless  I  asked  for  him,  was  a  ques- 
tion that  puzzled  me. 

For  a  while  I  stood  on  the  corner  of  a  street,  and 
thought  the  matter  over ;  and  while  I  was  thus  thinking, 
two  persons  stopped  near  me. 

"Well,"  asked  one,  "you  think  that  you  will  sail  to- 
morrow, do  you  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  if  we  have  wind  enough.  I  am  tired  of  remain- 
ing in  this  cursed  secesh  hole." 

"  Ah  !  "  returned  the  other,  with  a  sigh,  "  what  do  you 
think  of  my  position  ?  Insults  and  defiance  are  what  I 
have  met  with  ever  since  I  have  been  stationed  here.  I 
have  to  submit  to  many  things  which  nearly  drive  me 
frantic,  and  yet  there  is  no  help  for  me." 

"  I  can  imagine  some  of  the  hard  things  which  you  have 
to  bear  ;  but  have  patience  and  courage.  The  time  will 
come  when  all  of  these  things  will  be  remembered  and 
paid  for.  The  wind  will  not  blow  in  one  quarter  for  a 
lifetime." 

' '  I  hope  not ;  and  now  good  night,  for  I  must  hasten  home." 

The  parties  separated,  —  one  walking  towards  the 
water,  and  the  other  towards  the  centre  of  the  town.  The 
latter  seemed  to  be  the  man  I  wanted,  so  followed  him 
as  rapidly  as  possible,  keeping  close  to  his  heels,  until  he 
suddenly  noticed  my  movements,  turned,  and,  to  my  sur- 
prise, presented  a  revolver  close  to  my  head. 

I  must  confess  that  I  stopped  quite  suddenly  when 
such  a  threatening  demonstration  was  made  ;  and,  when  I 
was  about  to  ask  the  cause  of  it,  the  person  I  confronted 
remarked  in  a  quiet,  confident  manner,  — 


114  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  If  you  follow  me  another  step  I'll  put  a  piece  of  lead 
through  you." 

"  I  should  be  extremely  sorry  to  have  you  do  anything 
of  the  sort.  Cold  lead  is  unpleasant,  and  not  to  be  trifled 
with." 

"  Who  in  the  fiend's  name  are  you  ?  "  asked  the  man 
with  the  revolver,  still  keeping  his  pistol  on  a  level  with 
my  head. 

"  Don't  you  see  that  I'm  a  sailor  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  I  see  that  you  are  dressed  in  a  sailor's  rig,  but 
that  don't  make  you  a  sailor  ;  so  keep  at  arm's  length  until 
we've  had  a  better  understanding,  or  I  swear  to  you  that 
I  will  blow  your  brains  out." 

"  Nonsense  !  "  I  cried.  "  If  I  had  brains,  I  should  not 
be  here.  Put  up  your  pistol,  and  don't  fear  me." 

"  Do  you  belong  to  a  blockade-runner  ?  "  the  stranger 
asked,  and  slowly  lowered  his  pistol,  so  that  it  no  longer 
covered  my  head,  for  which  I  was  thankful,  for  the  man 
before  me  was  of  a  nervous  temperament,  and  a  little  too 
active  to  suit  an  inquiring  mind  like  my  own. 

"  No ;  I  am  not  in  that  line  of  business." 

"Who  are  you,  then?" 

"  A  sailor,  without  a  shot  in  the  locker,  anxious  to  find 
the  American  consul." 

The  man  before  me  seemed  to  meditate  on  the  subject, 
as  though  debating  as  to  the  amount  of  reliance  to  be 
placed  on  what  I  stated.  At  last  he  said,  — 

"  I  am  the  American  consul.  Come  to  my  office  to- 
morrow morning,  and  I  will  listen  to  your  wants." 

He  was  about  to  turn  away,  but  I  detained  him  by  my 
words. 

"  I  must  talk  with  you  to-night,  or  not  at  all.  I  can't 
see  you  at  your  office  in  the  daytime." 

"Why  not?" 

"  For  good  and  sufficient  reasons." 


RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE  115 

"  Let  me  hear  one  of  them." 

"  Convince  me  that  you  are  the  American  consul, 
and  I  will  convince  you  that  I  have  something  worth 
listening  to." 

"  You  are  not  a  common  sailor  ;  "  and  I  saw  the  consuJ 
raise  one  of  his  hands  in  a  slow,  cautious  manner,  and 
make  a  sign  that  I  instantly  recognized. 

I  had  been  waiting  for  that  demonstration ;  and  now 
that  I  was  satisfied  a  United  States  officer  stood  before 
me,  I  returned  the  sign,  and  saw  that  it  was  comprehended 
immediately ;  for  the  grand  secret-service  signal  was  given, 
and  answered  as  soon  as  made. 

"  I  am  glad  to  welcome  you  to  Nassau,"  said  the  consul, 
as  he  held  out  his  hand,  and  received  the  proper  grip. 

"  And  I  am  glad  to  find  you,  for  I  have  had  enough 
trouble  in  so  doing." 

"  You  have  news  for  me  ?  "  asked  the  consul. 

• 

"  Yes  ;  important  news." 

"  Did  you  arrive  in  the  steamer  from  New  York  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Then  you  are  just  the  one  I  want  to  see.  My  letters 
tell  me  that  a  large  number  of  secesh  and  blockade  run- 
ners would  take  passage  for  Nassau.  You  can  give  me 
some  important  information,  I  have  no  doubt.  Come  with 
me  to  the  house,  and  have  a  glass  of  wine  ;  and  then  we 
will  compare  notes,  at  the  same  time  drink  success  to  our 
cause." 

As  we  walked  along,  I  related  to  the  official  some  of 
the  incidents  which  I  had  encountered  during  the  evening ; 
and  if  the  consul  had  been  a  mirthfully  inclined  man,  he 
would  have  laughed  and  enjoyed  the  thing  as  much  as  I 

did ;  but  Mr. had  suffered  so  much  while  in  office, 

that  it  was  rare  to  see  a  smile  on  his  face.  Pie  appeared 
to  regard  jokes  something  in  the  same  light  that  he  re- 
garded blockade  runners,  —  things  to  be  dealt  with  in  a 

rrmnnpr    nnrl  rmf  rJnwn   wit.Virmf. 


116  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE 

I  saw  his  disposition  for  thoughtfulness,  and  rallied  him 
a  little  on  it ;  but  it  was  useless  to.  force  him  from  a 
beaten  path,  so  I  let  the  matter  drop,  and  we  walked 
on  in  silence  until  we  reached  his  house  and  entered. 

The  consul  conducted  me  to  his  library,  where  we  could 
be  alone,  ordered  some  wine,  pulled  down  the  curtains  so 
that  no  one  could  look  in,  glanced  under  the  sofa  to  see  it 
any  one  was  concealed  there,  and  then  announced  himself 
ready  to  hear  all  that  I  had  to  offer. 

"  And  let  me  entreat  of  you  to  speak  low,"  said  the 
consul. '  "I  am  surrounded  by  spies  ;  all  my  actions  and 
visitors  are  watched  and  reported  to  the  select  circle  at 
the  Humbug  Hotel,  where  blockade  runners  and  confeder- 
ate agents  make  their  headquarters  and  revile  the  North. 
Hark!  what  was  that ?" 

We  listened  for  a  moment.     All  was  quiet. 

"  It  might  have  been  the  wind  stirring  the  bushes  and 
trees  in  the  garden,"  the  consul  said,  looking  as  thougli  he 
hoped  I  would  confirm  his  suggestion ;  but  I  could  not, 
for,  unless  my  ears  deceived  me,  I  had  heard  a  footstep 
under  the  window. 

We  waited  a  moment  for  a  repetition  of  the  sound,  but 
all  was  quiet. 

"  Well,"  said  the  officer,  "  I  suppose  you  may  as  well 
go  on.  Perhaps  I  was  mistaken ;  but  you  don't  know 
what  the  people  who  track  me  and  annoy  me  are  capable 
of." 

"  Yes,  I  do.  I  have  seen  several  specimens  of  the  chiv- 
alry during  my  life,  and  rare  specimens  they  were.  I  will 
enlighten  you  regarding  my  companions  on  board  the 
steamer.  In  the  first  place  —  " 

I  stopped  in  my  narrative  abruptly ;  for,  as  sure  as  I  sat 
in  a  chair,  I  heard  the  breaking  of  twigs  beneath  the  win- 
dow, as  though  some  one  was  approaching  very  cautiously 
for  the  purpose  of  listening  to  our  conference. 


RUNNING  THE    BLOCKADE.  117 

"  I  knew  that  I  was  not  mistaken,"  the  consul  said. 
u  Some  one  is  hovering  around  the  house,  hoping  to  hear 
something,  having  seen  us  enter  the  building." 

"  Have  you  any  objections  to  my  slipping  my  cable,  and 
rrowding  sail  in  chase  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  It  would  be  useless.  Before  you  could  get  out  of  the 
front  door  the  scamp  would  be  off." 

"  Yes ;  but  I  don't  propose  to  leave  the  house  by  the 
front  door.  Does  that  window  move  easy  ?  " 

"  Yes.     A  light  touch  will  open  it." 

"  Then  allow  me  to  remove  the  fastenings,  and  do  you 
pull  up  the  curtain  when  I  give  the  signal." 

"  But  the  sneak  may  fire  at  you.  Blockade  runners  are 
capable  of  anything." 

"  Do  not  fear  for  me.  A  man  detected  in  an  act  of 
meanness  is  not  apt  to  possess  much  coolness.  T  will  run 
some  little  risk  for  the  purpose  of  rebuking  one  of  these 
sneaks." 

The  face  of  the  consul  glowed,  and  he  seemed  to  enter 
into  the  arrangement  with  more  spirit  than  I  anticipated. 
He  removed  the  fastening  of  the  window,  arranged  the 
curtain  so  that  it  could  be  pulled  aside  at  a  moment's 
notice,  and,  when  all  was  ready,  I  gave  the  official  the 
papers  which  Colonel  Rhett  had  stolen  from  Sould,  and 
which  I  had  obtained  possession  of  through  a  ruse  ; 
also  related  all  that  had  transpired  while  on  board  the 
steamer  and  at  the  hotel,  and  requested  the  consul  to  for- 
ward the  facts  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, in  case  I  were  unable  to  write  out  a  detailed  account 
of  all  that  had  transpired. 

During  my  narrative,  more  than  once  had  we  heard 
footsteps  under  the  window,  but  we  pretended  not  to 
notice  them,  for  I  was  desirous  of  concluding  my  remarks 
before  I  attended  to  other  business.  But  I  spoke  so  low 
that  there  was  no  danger  of  being  heard  by  the  listener, 


118  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

whoever  he  was ;  and  although  one  of  his  ears,  I  had  no 
doubt,  was  glued  to  the  window-pane,  yet  he  was  no  wiser 
when  I  had  concluded  than  when  I  commenced  my  yarn. 

"  Now,"  I  whispered  to  the  consul,  "  I  am  ready  to 
overhaul  the  fellow  outside." 

"  Had  you  not  better  think  twice  of  the  matter  ?  There 
is  no  occasion  to  give  chase  of  such  a  sneak  as  is  in  the 
garden." 

"  We  can  see  who  he  is  and  what  he  wants,"  I  replied. 
"  Ah !  he  is  growing  impatient.  Now,  then,  I  am  ready, 
if  you  are." 

The  consul  nodded,  and  up  went  the  curtain  and  the 
window  at  the  same  time,  giving  a  momentary  glimpse  of 
a  dark  and  surprised-looking  face  ;  for  the  change  was  so 
sudden  that  the  eavesdropper  had  no  time  to  dodge  out  of 
sight. 

As  I  put  my  hand  on  the  window-sill  to  spring  out,  the 
spy  vanished  amid  the  bushes ;  but  the  next  instant  I  had 
alighted  on  the  ground,  and  was  in  close  pursuit ;  vaulting 
over  roses  and  other  shrubs,  stumbling  and  dodging  amid 
the  branches  of  fruit  trees,  but  still  keeping  the  form  of 
the  spy  in  view,  until  I  found  that  I  should  break  my  neck 
if  I  kept  on,  and  then  I  called  on  the  fellow  to  halt. 

"  Stop  !"  I  said,  "  or  I'll  fire." 

He  only  made  more  exertions  to  escape  :  and  I  soon  saw 
(.hat  he  had  the  best  of  me,  as  far  as  heels  were  concerned. 
Determined  that  he  should  not  get  off  without  some  little 
damage,  I  drew  my  revolver,  and  taking  a  rapid  aim,  fired. 
-,The  party  I  was  pursuing  uttered  a  fearful  yell,  which 
was  an  indication  that  I  had  hit  him ;  but  the  cold  lead 
seemed  to  act  just  the  same  as  a  steel  spur  acts  on  a  horse, 
causing  him  to  bound  higher  and  run  faster ;  and  at 
last,  after  I  had  nearly  knocked  my  brains  out  against  the 
boughs  of  trees,  I  was  compelled  to  give  up  the  chase,  and 
return  towards  the  house. 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  119 

I  met  the  consul  in  search  of  me.  He  had  heard  the 
report  of  a  pistol,  and  it  had  alarmed  him.  He  feared  that 
I  had  been  shot  at  and  wounded,  and  he  also  feared  that 
the  noise  of  the  revolver  would  draw  a  large  crowd  in  the 
vicinity  of  his  house,  and  that,  through  Southern  influence,  a 
row  would  ensue,  thus  complicating  matters  for  the  United 
States  and  England;  a  row  between  the  two  countries 
beliLg  just  what  the  confeds  at  Nassau  most  earnestly 
desired,  so  that  independence  could  be  secured  through 
such  a  result. 

k>  I  am  glad  that  you  are  uninjured,"  the  consul  said,  as 
soon  as  I  had  answered  his  questions ;  "but  I  am  sorry 
that  you  fired  your  pistol.  Hark  !  already  the  alarm  has 
been  given,  and  in  a  few  minutes  a  crowd  will  collect 
around  the  house.  I  must  go  in  and  put  out  the  lights. 
Will  you  come  with  me,  or  make  your  escape  while  there 
is  time  ?  " 

"  Let  me  go  with  you,  and  share  your  danger,"  I  said. 

"  There  is  no  danger,  unless  some  one  throws  a  stone 
through  one  of  my  windows.  That  is  about  all  that  will 
be  done.  The  work  is  just  brave  enough  for  some  of  these 
Nassau  people. 

"  Who  are  pirates  in  disposition,  and  sheep  in  courage," 
I  said. 

The  consul  did  not  reply.  The  murmur  of  people  col- 
lecting in  the  streets  became  more  audible  ;  and  it  was 
evident  that  they  were  nearing  the  house  on  an  errand  of 
investigation. 

"  You  must  now  leave  me,"  the  consul  remarked  in  a 
cool,  calculating  way,  as  though  he  was  accustomed  to 
such  sounds  and  scenes.  "•  I  must  hasten  to  the  house, 
while  you  had  better  return  to  the  hotel  at  once.  We 
will  meet  again  in  a  few  days,  and  compare  notes.  Good 

by." 

He  left  me  just  as  a  crowd  of  noisy  men  and  boys  halted 


120  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

in  front  of  his  house,  and  shouted  and  groaned  as  though 
endeavoring  to  raise  their  courage  sufficiently  to  commit 
some  act  of  an  aggravating  nature. 

"  Come  out,  you  representative  of  a  brutal  and  tyranni- 
cal government !  "  yelled  one  voice,  which  I  had  no  trouble 
iu  setting  down  as  belonging  to  a  Southerner.  "  Let  us 
see  your  flag,  and  if  you  dare  to  face  this  enlightened 
crowd  of  freemen." 

"  'Ear  !  'ear  I  "  roared  a  score  of  Englishmen. 

I  jumped  over  a  wall,  crossed  the  street,  and,  by  the 
absence  of  light,  soon  managed  to  join  the  crowd  without 
exciting  remark. 

I  saw  that  there  were  about  fifty  men  near  the  house : 
two  thirds  of  them  were  people  cf  Nassau,  who  engaged  in 
little  piratical  ventures,  such  as  robbing  wrecks,  running 
the  blockade,  and  an}rthing  to  earn  an  honest  living  ;  and 
the  other  third  was  composed  of  Southerners  who  h  d 
joined  hands  with  the  pirates  and  the  sons  of  pirates  for 
the  purpose  of  humiliating  the  flag  of  our  Union  and  the 
country  that  gave  them  birth. 

"  Let  the  man  wot  shoots  at  men  show  hisself,  '  roared 
an  English  cockney,  stooping  down  and  feeling  for  a  stono  ; 
and  it  was  lucky  for  the  consul's  windows  that  but  few 
stones  could  be  found  in  the  streets  of  Nassau,  sand  being 
the  principal  substance. 

"  Say,  Yankee  !  why  don't  you  shoot  at  some  of  us  ?  " 
roared  a  bold  individual. 

"  Yes  ;  let  him  try  it  on  if  he  wants  to.  Come,  fire  at 
us.  We  are  ready  for  you." 

Then  all  hands  yelled,  like  a  lot  of  fiends  as  they 
wero  ;  but  still  the  consul  did  not  show  a  light,  or  give 
any  indication  that  he  was  awake. 

"  O,  he  can  kill  people  when  there  are  no  witnesses,1 
one  young  ruffian  said,  and  raised  his  arm  to  throw  some- 
thing ;  but,  just  as  he  was  about  to  launch  a  shot  at  the 


RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE.  121 

windows,  I  gave  the  scamp  a  push,  and  sent  him  hoadlong 
to  the  earth. 

"  Who  did  that  ?  "  he  asked,  in  an  indignant  tone. 

No  one  paid  the  least  attention  to  the  question,  for 
just  at  that  moment  the  consul  appeared  at  the  door,  and 
asked,  in  a  loud  tone,  — 

•  "  Gentlemen,  to  what  am  I  indebted  for  the  honor  of 
this  visit?" 

A  hoot  of  derision  was  the  answer  ;  and  some  of  the 
Southerners,  in  their  zeal  and  rage,  hurled  sand  at  the 
consul,  while  others  searched  for  missiles  ;  and  lucky  it  was 
for  the  official's  head  that  they  could  not  find  what  they 
wanted. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  the  consul,  in  a  quiet  tone,  "  I  shall 
complain  of  this  outrage  to  the  government." 

A  shout  of  laughter  was  the  reply  to  this  threat,  and 
more  sand  was  thrown ;  but  just  at  this  moment  some  one 
cried,  — 

"  The  sojers  are  coming !  " 

The  crowd  started  on  the  run  down  the  street,  and 
scattered  in  all  directions.  I  went  with  some  of  the  swift- 
est towards  the  water  ;  for  I  thought  that,  with  the  har- 
bor for  a  guide,  I  could  find  my  way  back  to  the  hotel 
without  trouble. 

So  I  ran,  with  some  half  a  dozen  others,  until  I  was 
within  sight  of  the  water,  and  then,  just  as  I  was  about  to 
stop  and  take  breath,  I  was  struck  a  savage  blow  on  the 
head,  and  down  I  tumbled  insensible." 

When  I  began  to  recover  I  heard  some  terrible  shouts 
of  laughter,  and  songs,  and  harsh  words ;  and  when  1  WHS 
enabled  to  see,  found  that  I  was  lying  in  a  berth  in  a 
steamer's  house,  and  that  the  crew  were  seated  on  their 
chests,  on  their  clothes-bags,  and  on  kegs,  with  tin  pots  in 
their  hands,  drinking  and  carousing,  and  singing  the  joys 
and  pleasures  of  the  sea. 


122  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

For  a  few  minutes  1  remained  quiet,  and  endeavored  to 
comprehend  all  that  had  passed  during  the  night ;  but  I 
was  so  weak  and  faint  that  I  found  the  effort  almost  im- 
possible ;  and  when  I  raised  my  head  to  speak,  and  ask 
how  I  happened  to  be  where  I  was,  found  that  the  motion 
was  a  little  too  much  for  me,  and  settled  down  with  so 
much  pain  that  a  groan  escaped  me. 

"  Hullo- !  "  cried  one  of  the  youngest  and  liveliest  of  the 
men.  "  Our  new  shipmate  is  swinging  with  the  tide. 
He  begins  to  feel  his  helm,  like  a  seventy-four  in  a  close- 
reefed-topsail  breeze.  What  cheer,  old  feller  ?  How  goes 
it?" 

He  left  his  seat  on  the  chest,  and  came  towards  me, 
while  his  companions  stopped  their  singing  for  a  moment. 
But  the  lull  was  only  for  a  moment,  for  they  almost  im- 
mediately recommenced  howling  for  the  success  of  some 
noted  steamer  that  had  run  the  blockade  many  times,  and 
bidden  defiance  to  all  the  ships  in  the  Yankee  navy. 

"  Well,  shipmate,  what  cheer?  "  asked  the  sailor,  as  he 
bent  over  me. 

"  Give  me  a  little  water,"  I  said.  "  I  feel  faint  and 
thirsty,  and  my  head  pains  me  dreadfully." 

"  Won't  a  little  brandy  do  better  ?  "  asked  the  young 
fellow. 

The  very  thought  of  touching  liquor  made  me  shudder. 

"  Well,  well ;  don't  kick.  You  shall  have  the  water ; 
but  some  of  the  crew  wouldn't  believe  it  if  I  should  tell 
'em  that  you  liked  it  better  than  grog." 

He  left  the  house  for  a  moment,  and  returned  with  a 
quart  pot  of  water  from  the  scuttle  butt,  so  that  it  should 
be  fresh. 

"  Here  you  are,  shipmate.  Let  me  help  you  raise  your 
head.  So ;  that  will  do.  Now  down  with  it." 

The  water  was  warmj  but  it  tasted  good,  and  refreshed 
me  a  little. 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  123 

"  Now  let  me  look  at  your  calabash.  You  must  have 
been  awful  swipsey  to  fall  and  damage  your  figure-head  in 
that  way !  Run  afoul  of  a  stone,  didn't  you  ?  for  you  have 
a  deuce  of  a  cut  here  just  aft  of  the  ears." 

"  No ;  some  one  struck  me  with  a  slung-shot,  I  sup- 
pose." 

"  Then  the  mean  sneak  was  a  coward,  what  didn't  dare 
to  stand  up,  man  fashion,  and  give  and  take.  How  did  it 
happen  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know." 

"  Well,  some  of  our  crew  brought  you  on  board,  by 
order  of  the  '  old  man.'  They  said  they  found  you  on  the 
beach.  But  here  you  are,  and  here  you  must  remain,  'cos 
we  trip  anchor  to-morrow." 

"  For  where  ?  " 

"  That's  only  known  to  the  skipper  and  the  chaps  on 
shore.  Lord  !  they  don't  let  us  coves  into  the  secret,  'cos 
they  fear  we  should  prove  a  little  leaky,  and  then  Uncle 
Sam's  boys  would  get  wind  of  the  matter,  and  gobble  us 
up.  But  cheer  up,  matey ;  in  a  few  days  you'll  be  all 
right,  and  eatin'  your  reg'lar  'lowance  like  the  rest  of  us." 

This  was  far  from  satisfactory  to  me,  and  so  I  made 
an  impatient  gesture,  and  attempted  to  sit  up  ;  but  my 
head  ached  so  severely  that  I  could  not,  and  was  forced  to 
lie  down  again. 

"  I  want  to  see  the  captain  of  the  steamer,"  I  said. 
"  I  must  be  set  on  shore.  I'll  have  satisfaction  for  this 
outrage." 

The  young  sailor  smiled. 

"The 'old  man'  has  company,  and  won't  notice  you. 
You'd  better  make  the  -best  of  it.  Take  what  is  offered 
you,  and  think  yourself  lucky  for  it." 

I  made  no  reply ;  and  the  young  sailor,  seeing  that  I  did 
not  rally  at  his  words,  continued,  — 

"  You  jest  keep  still,  and  I'll  go  aft  and  ask  the  surgeon 
to  come  for'ard  and  look  at  ver  head." 


124  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  young  sailor  returned  with  the 
surgeon  of  the  ship,  —  an  old  Scotchman  who  was  on  his 
way  to  the  Southern  Confederacy  to  offer  his  services.  He 
hoped  to  do  wonders  in  curing  diseases  and  amputating 
limbs,  and  receive  his  pay  for  doing  the  same  in  cotton 
at  the  rate  of  fourpence  a  pound,.mtending  to  sell  the 
same  in  Liverpool  for  about  four  shillings. 

The  Scotch  surgeon's  name  was  Donald  MacFearson, 
and  he  came  from  Glasgow. 

MacFearson,  on  the  night  that  he  was  called  to  attend 
me,  had  been  drinking  success  to  the  Southern  Confederacy 
with  half  a  dozen  of  the  chivalry,  who  were  on  their  way 
to  the  seat  of  the  rebellion  ;  and  consequently  he  was  not 
so  clear-headed  as  he  might  have  been. 

"  Here  he  is,  doctor,"  said  the  young  sailor,  by  way  of 
introduction,  as  he  appeared  at  the  side  of  the  berth  with 
the  Scotchman. 

The  doctor  approached  and  bent  over  me,  holding  on  to 
the  berth  with  one  hand,  and  said,  in  his  broadest  accent,  — 

"  "Weel,  mon,  what  is  the  matter  with  ye  ?  Who  ha' 
been  and  hurted  ye  ?  " 

As  he  spoke,  he  was  sober  enough  to  turn  my  head,  and 
examine  the  wound.  He  then  continued,  — 

"  Ah !  a  rnoughty  bad  whack,  mon.  Some  one  hit  ye 
that  meant  it  should  tell.  I  will  do  the  best  that  I 
can  for  ye  till  I  am  a  bit  fresher  ;  for  the  punch  to-night 
was  unco  good,  and  there  was  much  of  it.  Here,  hold  the 
light,  young  Harry  Bluff,  and  let  me  see  if  I  can  cut  away 
some  hair,  and  put  on  a  plaster." 

"  Nonsense  !  "  cried  the  young  sailor  who  was  called 
Harry  Bluff;  and  he  laughed  as  he  steadied  the  doctor, 
and  kept  him  on  his  feet.  "  Do  ycu  go  aft,  and  get  the 
plaster,  while  I  nick  off  the  hair.  You'll  stick  the  scis- 
sors in  his  head,  as  sure  as  fate,  if  you  attempt  it." 

'•  Weel,  lad,  perhaps  ye  are  right.     Do  you  do  the  rough 


RUNNING   THE  BLOCKADE.  126 

work,  and  I'll  do  the  fine  ;  and,  as  a  reward,  I'll  give  you 
a  stiff  dose  of  punch." 

Off  the  doctor  went,  and  Harry  Bluff  trimmed  the  hair 
from  the  wound  with  as  careful  and  tender  a  hand  as  a 
•woman's  ;  and,  just  as  he  had  finished,  the  steward  entered 
the  house  with  some  plaster  and  the  doctor's  compliments? 
and  hoped  that  Harry  would  finish  the  work,  for  he 
had  resumed  his  old  seat  at  the  cabin  table,  and  was  drink- 
ing whiskey  punches  as  though  on  a  wager. 

"  Never  mind,"  whispered  Harry  Bluff,  in  a  soothing 
tone,  as  he  bent  over  me.  "  I  know  a  little  of  surgery, 
and  will  attend  to  your  wound.  Keep  up  your  spirits,  and 
you  will  come  out  all  right,  like  the  sun  after  a  rain  squall 
on  the  equator." 

He  put  on  the  plaster,  bound  up  my  head,  and  then 
went  aft  and  obtained  an  opiate  of  some  kind  for  me,  which 
made  me  feel  easier,  and  put  me  to  sleep  in  spite  of  the 
noise  and  confusion  around  me.  I  slept  soundly  through 
all  the  uproar  of  getting  under  way  ;  for,  when  I  awoke, 
I  knew,  by  the  rolling  of  the  steamer,  that  we  were  at 
sea,  and  that  the  crew  were  washing  down  decks.  I  al- 
most groaned  as  I  reflected  that  all  my  clothes  and  valu- 
ables were  on  shore  at  the  Royal  Humbug  Hotel,  and  that 
they  were  lost  to  me  forever. 

I  was  aroused  from  this  disagreeable  reflection  by  the 
entrance  into  the  house  of  Harry  Bluff,  with  a  pot  of  hot 
coffee  in  his  hand. 

"  Come,"  he  said,  "  rouse  and  shine  ;  you're  worth  a 
dozen  dead  men.  I've  blarneyed  the  cook  into  giving  me 
a  pot  of  coffee  ;  and  you  and  I  will  share  it." 

The  coffee  was  so  reviving  that  I  was  enabled  to  raise 
my  head  and  sit  up ;  and  then  I  concluded  to  go  on 
deck,  have  an  interview  with  the  captain,  and  see  what 
he  meant  by  such  treatment  as  I  had  received. 

"  Is  the  captain  on  deck  ?  "  I  asked. 


126  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE, 

"  Yes,"  replied  Harry. 

I  at  once  determined  to  seek  him  before  any  of  the  pas- 
sengers were  stirring. 

"  What  is  his  name  ?  "  I  inquired. 

"  Captain  Pooduck ;  and  this  is  the  steamer  Pet. 
She's  the  fastest  and  most  successful  blockade  runner  that 
ever  bothered  a  Yankee  gunboat.  This  is  her  fourth 
trip." 

With  the  assistance  of  Harry  Bluff,  I  cleansed  the  blood 
from  my  face  and  hands,  arranged  my  hair,  and  then  left 
the  house,  where  the  starboard  watch  was  snoring,  and 
went  on  deck,  where  the  larboard  watch  were  washing 
down. 

The  sun  was  up  and  shining  brightly,  the  air  was  clear 
and  pure,  and  the  water  looked  blue  and  crisp  as  the 
waves  dashed  against  the  steamer  or  rolled  after  her  as  if 
anxious  for  an  embrace.  The  fresh  air  inspirited  and 
strengthened  me  ;  but,  for  all  that,  I  was  compelled  to  sit 
down  and  rest,  I  was  so  weak. 

The  captain  of  the  Pet  was  walking  the  quarter-deck, 
cigar  in  mouth,  and  hands  in  his  breeches-pockets,  medi- 
tating on  the  profits  of  the  trip  in  case  he  escaped,  when 
I  crept  aft  and  accosted  him. 

At  first  the  captain  did  not  hear  me ;  but  at  last  he 
allowed  his  eyes  to  fall  on  my  face,  and  then  he  stopped 
and  asked,  — 

"  Who  are  you,  and  what  do  you  want?  " 

"  I  want  justice,"  I  replied. 

"  You  do,  eh  ?  Go  forward  and  get  sober,  and  then 
go  to  work.  You  have  been  drunk  and  fighting." 

He  was  about  to  resume  his  walk,  but  I  was  not  to  be 
turned  off  in  that  manner.  I  knew  quarter-deck  etiquette 
too  well  for  that.  - 

"  Captain  Pooduck,"  I  said,  "  I  was  knocked  down  last 
night,  and,  while  insensible,  brought  on  board  of  youj 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  127 

vessel.  It  was  an  outrage  that  I  am  determined  to  resent 
as  soon  as  I  have  an  opportunity." 

'k  There ;  that  will  do  for  the  present.  Now  go  forward, 
and  do  your  duty." 

"  I  shall  do  no  such  thing.  I  am  a  Southern  gentle- 
man ;  and  when  we  reach  a  Southern  port,  I'll  make  you 
smart  for  this  treatment.  I  have  been  kidnapped,  and 
you  had  a  hand  in  it." 

"  I'll  have  a  hand  on  your  throat,  if  you  don't  start  your 
stumps  for'ard,"  Captain  Pooduck  responded,  and  made 
a  motion  as  though  he  would  kick  me.  But  I  did  not 
move  ;  so  he  said,  — 

"  Look  a-here,  young  feller  ;  I  found  you  on  the  beach 
last  night,  with  a  big  cut  on  your  head.  I  told  the  men 
to  bundle  you  in  the  boat,  and  take  you  on  board ;  and 
they  did  so.  Here  you  are,  and  here  you  must  remain  till 
we  reach  some  port.  Now  go  for'ard." 

"  I  shall  do  no  such  thing,"  I  remarked,  in  a  quiet  tone, 
"  unless  you  tell  me  who  struck  me,  and  how  I  happened 
to  be  here.  There  is  some  secret  connected  with  the 
affair,  and  I  am  determined  to  know  it." 

"  Not  from  me,  you  won't,  that  I  can  tell  yer." 

As  the  captain  spoke,  he  threw  off  several  coils  of  a 
rope  from  a  belaying-pin,  so  that  he  could  work  to  advan- 
tage, and  then  came  towards  me,  rope  in  hand. 

The  crew  of  the  steamer,  who  were  washing  down 
decks,  dropped  their  buckets,  and  crowded  aft,  anxious  to 
see  the  row  ;  for  most  of  them  had  witnessed  too  many 
shots  and  blows  to  be  afraid  of  a  quarter-deck  breeze. 
Foremost  in  the  ranks  that  pressed  aft  was  young  Harry 
Bluff;  and  although  I  could  not  think  of  assistance  from 
the  men,  yet  I  did  hope  that  Harry  would  prove  a  friend 
in  case  I  had  to  fight  for  my  life. 

"  Stand  back,  Captain  Pooduck,"  I  said.  "  If  you  offer 
to  striko  me  with  a  rope,  you  are  a  dead  man." 


128  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

As  I  spoke,  I  drew  my  revolver,  and  levelled  it  at  hia 
head ;  and  if  ever  there  was  an  astonished  man,  Captain 
Pooduck  was  the  one. 

He  stopped,  and  no  longer  threatened  with  the  rope ; 
but,  although  baffled  for  the  moment,  did  not  despair  of 
carrying  out  his  plan. 

"  Bring  handspikes,  some  of  you,"  he  said,  "  and  knock 
.him  down.  Kill  him !  Throw  him  overboard  !  " 

The  mate  of  the  steamer,  as  in  duty  bound,  made  an 
attempt  to  carry  out  the  captain's  benevolent  designs ;  but 
before  he  could  snatch  a  capstan-bar  from  the  rack,  a  new 
actor  appeared  on  the  scene,  —  one  who  seemed  quite  sur- 
prised at  what  she  saw,  for  it  was  a  lady,  who  left  the 
cabin,  and  came  on  the  quarter-deck.  She  gave  vent  to 
her  astonishment,  by  exclaiming,  — 

"  Mercy,  Captain  Pooduck  !  what  is  the  matter  ?  '' 

I  turned,  and  saw,  standing  near  me,  Mrs.  Margelia 
Gowen,  the  wife  of  the  Augusta  cotton-broker,  the  man 
who  had  been  knocked  senseless  the  day  before  at  the 
dinner  table. 

The  instant  she  caught  sight  of  my  face,  she  knew  me, 
and,  with  a  pleasant  smile,  held  out  her  hand,  and  came 
towards  me,  saying,  — 

"  Why,  Lieutenant  Barnwell !  how  glad  I  am  to  know 
that  you  are  on  board !  " 

I  put  up  my  pistol,  and  was  really  glad  to  see  the  lady  ; 
for  she  was  the  means  of  preventing  bloodshed,  and  per- 
haps had  saved  my  life. 

At  the  time  I  escorted  the  handsome  Mrs.  Gowen  up 
the 'grand  stairs  of  the  Royal  Humbug  Hotel,  she  had  not 
even  intimated  that  she  was  to  leave  Nassau  in  a  hurry, 
but  had  urged  me  to  visit  her  as  often  as  I  could  make  it 
convenient  during  my  stay  at  the  hotel ;  and  now  she 
appeared  like  a  ghost,  and  just  at  the  time  she  could  serve 
me  most.  In  truth,  I  was  very  glad  to  see  her,  for  she 


MRS.  GOWEN  INTERFERES — Page  128,. 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  129 

was  a  handsome  woman,  a  wilful  one,  and  accustomed  to 
always  have  her  own  way. 

"  Barn  well,"  she  asked,  as  she  took  both  of  my  hands, 
after  I  had  put  my  revolver  out  of  sight,  "  what  is  the 
meaning  of  this  masquerade  ?  What  are  you  doing  here, 
and  how  does  it  happen  that  you  and  Captain  Pooduck  are 
quarrelling  ?  Come,  sir,  answer  me.  I'll  have  no  evasion." 

The  master  of  the  steamer  Pet  dropped  the  rope's  end, 
and  looked  as  though  he  had  been  detected  in  committing 
simple  larceny,  with  a  prospect  of  being  arraigned  before 
a  police  court,  and  having  his  name  published  in  the 
papers.  He  shoved  his  hands  in  his  pockets,  and  whistled 
softly. 

"  Captain  Pooduck  and  I  were  having  a  slight  discus- 
sion relative  to  the  manner  in  which  I  came  on  board,"  I 
replied.  "  Some  personalities  have  passed  between  us ;  but 
I  think  we  now  understand  each  other." 

"  If  Captain  Pooduck  offends  or  insults  a  friend  of  mine, 
he  will  hear  from  me,"  Mrs.  Gowen  remarked  in  a  haugh- 
ty tone.  "  I  have  some  influence  in  the  confederacy  when 
I  desire  to  exert  it." 

The  master  of  the  Pet  instantly  exhibited  all  the  craven, 
mercenary  qualities  of  a  Yankee  blockade  runner,  and 
became  as  humble  as  a  cabin-boy  after  tasting  of  rope's 
end  ;  for  he  well  knew  that  the  cotton  which  he  expected 
to  receive  for  the  merchandise  on  board  must  come  with 
the  consent  of  the  rebel  powers,  and  a  handsome  woman 
had  influence  with  Jeff  Davis  and  his  cabinet. 

"  I  hadn't  the  slightest  idea  that  he  was  a  friend  of 
your'n,"  the  captain  replied.  "  I  thought  I  was  doin'  him 
a  good  service  when  I  took  him  on  board  last  night ;  I 
wanted  a  hand  or  two,  you  know,  and  he  was  dressed  like 
a  sailor." 

"  Yes,  yes,  I  see !  Tell  me  how  it  happens  that  you 
have  those  clothes  on?  "  queried  Mrs.  Gowen. 


130  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  A  freak  of  mine,"  I  replied.  "  I  did  not  wish  to  min- 
gle with  the  people  as  a  gentleman,  and  so  I  put  on  this 
toggery." 

"  I  see.  Men  will  be  men.  But  I  will  not  reprove  you, 
because  I  don't  know  that  I  have  the  right. 

"  Captain  Pooduck,"  the  lady  said,  in  some  such  tone 
as  she  would  have  used  had  she  been  addressing  her  negro 
overseer,  ''let  Mr.  Barnwell  have  a  state-room,  —  one  of 
the  best  in  the  ship.  He  must  change  his  clothes,  and  re- 
assume  those  of  a  gentleman.  My  husband  has  a  trunk- 
ful  of  new  articles  of  apparel,  and  they  will  just  about  fit 
you." 

I  remonstrated  and  pleaded,  but  without  avail.  The 
lady  was  determined.  She  said  that  I  had  proved  myself 
a  brave  man,  and  she  loved  brave  men.  I  had  saved  her 
husband's  life  at  the  peril  of  my  own  ;  and  I  must  not 
think  she  was  ungrateful,  for  she  was  not.  She  should 

o 

recollect  me  as  long  as  she  lived.  And  a  great  deal  more 
was  said  to  the  same  effect. 

"  State-room  all  ready,  sir,"  said  the  steward;  and  then 
I  entered  the  cabin,  wondering  at  the  great  change  that 
had  taken  place  within  half  an  hour,  and  querying  how  it 
would  end. 

In  the  mean  time  the  crew  had  finished  washing  the 
decks,  and  were  wondering  what  it  all  meant,  but  it  got 
reported  round  that  I  was  some  great  confederate  officer 
whom  the  Yankees  had  endeavored  to  kill,  and  that  I  was 
on  my  way  to  Richmond  to  take  charge  of  the  James  River 
fleet. 

My  toilet  was  soon  made,  and  then  I  returned  to  the 
deck,  and  found  my  patroness  waiting  for  me. 

"You  have  been  expeditious,"  she  remarked,  as  I  joined 
her. 

"  Who  would  not  be,  when  so  agreeable  a  lady  was 
waiting  to  be  thanked  for  all  her  kindness  ?  "  I  replied. 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  13] 

"  Nonsense !  you  don't  think  me  agreeable,  or  even 
handsome." 

"  I  dare  to  think  both,  but  not  to  express  my  thoughts.' 

"  What  do  you  fear  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  fear,  but  I  remember." 

"  What  do  you  remember  ?  " 

"  That  you  are  a  wife." 

The  thin,  red  lips  curled,  and  the  large  dark  e^/es 
flashed,  while  a  scornful  smile  passed  over  her  face. 

"  Yes,  —  a  wife  without  a  husband." 

"  How  ?    Mrs.  Gowen,  you  are  disposed  to  laugh  at  me." 

"  I  never  was  more  serious  in  my  life  than  I  am  at  the 
present  time.  Come  I  it  is  luck,  on  some  accounts,  that 
\ve  have  met  on  board  this  steamer.  I  can  make  a  confi- 
dant of  you." 

"  I  shall  feel  honored  with  so  proud  a  trust,"  I  said. 

"  Will  you  really  ?  Well,  then,  listen  to  me  with  all 
your  attention." 

She  glanced  around  the  deck  to  see  that  no  one  WHS 
within  hearing. 

She  then  assumed  a  more  confidential  air,  laid  one  of 
her  small  but  brown  hands  on  my  arm  to  secure  my  atten- 
tion, and  said,  — 

"  You  are  surprised  at  seeing  me  on  board  the  Pet  ?  " 

"  I  am  pleased  at  seeing  you  on  board,"  I  whispered, 
"  Why  should  I  not  be  pleased,  when  your  presence  saved 
bloodshed,  and  perhaps  my  own  life  ?  " 

"  I  shall  be  happy  if  I  can  think  so,"  she  said,  and  then 
continued,  — 

"  When  we  parted  last  night,  I  had  no  intention  of 
leaving  Nassau  ;  but  that  odious  brute  of  a  Kentuckian 
drove  us  from  the  place.  O,  if  I  had  been  a  man,  this 
should  never  have  occurred.  You  know  how  badly  my 
husband  was  injured  by  a  blow  from  the  bottle  ?  He 
cannot  see  at  all ;  his  face  is  disfigured  for  life,  and  all  his 


132  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

spirit  is  gone.  I  think  that  it  was  near  nine  o'clock," 
Mrs.  Gowen  continued,  when  a  note  was  brought  to  the 
door  of  our  room.  It  was  for  my  husband,  —  a  challenge 
from  the  Kentuckian.  He  insisted  upon  an  immediate 
meeting,  and  swore  that  he  would  enter  the  room  and 
horsewhip  Mr.  Gowen  unless  he  complied  with  his  demand. 
My  husband  was  weak,  and  blind,  and  suffering,  and  be- 
came terrified  at  the  prospect.  Not  being  able  to  see,  he 
knew  he  could  not  avoid  the  Kentuckian,  and  so  insisted 
upon  immediate  flight.  I  begged  and  prayed  Mr.  Gowen 
to  wait  and  meet  the  brute,  or  else  let  me  attend  to  him ; 
but  he  was  too  much  under  the  influence  of  fear :  so  he 
left  all  his  business  with  an  agent,  and  we  took  passage  in 
the  Pet.  And  that  is  how  we  happen  to  be  here.  I  im- 
plored Mr.  Gowen  to  wait  till  I  could  consult  with  you 
on  the  subject ;  but  he  refused  to  listen  to  me ;  and  so  that 
brute  of  a  Kentuckian  can  boast  that  he  has  driven  from 
the  town  one  of  the  first  families  of  Georgia." 

I  started  with  surprise.  Gracious !  were  there  first  fam- 
ilies in  Georgia  as  well  as  in  Virginia  ? 

Just  at  that  moment  one  of  the  lookouts  stationed  at 
the  fore  masthead  uttered  a  yell  that  brought  everybody 
to  their  feet,  and  every  spy-glass  into  requisition. 

"  Sail,  ho !  "  shouted  the  lookout. 

Captain  Pooduck  was  in  his  state-room,  brushing  up  for 
breakfast ;  but,  hearing  the  cry,  he  came  on  deck  at  a 
bound,  and  glared  around  the  horizon  like  a  hungry  tiger 
in  search  of  a  dinner. 

"  Where  away?  "  yelled  Pooduck  ;  and  he  had  hardly 
asked  the  question  before  all  the  cabin  passengers  were 
on  deck,  some  of  whom  had  not  yet  slept  off  a  drunken 
debauch  of  the  previous  night. 

There  was  alarm  on  many  faces,  and  anxiety  on  all. 
The  Scotch  doctor,  who  had  drank  nearly  a  gallon  of 
punch  the  night  before,  made  his  appearance  with  a  seal- 


RUNNING  THJf    BLOCKADE.  133 

pel  in  one  hand  and  a  boot  in  the  other,  laboring  under 
the  impression  that  he  had  got  to  fight  or  travel,  and  per- 
haps both. 

"  Eh,  weel!  "  ho  growled,  "it's  unco  hard  if  the  Yan- 
kees grab  us  this  time.  Gi'  me  but  a  chance,  an'  I'll  na 
let  their  coffee  rest  on  their  stomachs." 

The  lookout  reported  that  the  sail  was  two  points  off 
the  weather  bow,  and  standing  on  the  same  course  as  the 
Pet. 

Captain  Pooduck  tucked  his  glass  under  his  arm,  and 
went  up  the  fore  rigging,  for  the  purpose  of  getting  a  fair 
sight  of  the  stranger  ;  while  the  cabin  passengers  mustered 
their  opera-glasses,  and  took  wonderful  observations  of  the 
vessel. 

For  half  an  hour  Captain  Pooduck  refused  to  answer  all 
questions  relating  to  the  steamer ;  for  it  was  easy  to  see 
that  it  was  a  steamer,  and  standing  on  the  same  course  as 
the  Pet :  but  at  the  end  of  that  time  a  long  line  of  black 
smoke  began  to  be  noticed  in  the  wake  of  the  stranger, 
and  then  we  saw  canvas  spread,  and  noticed  a  gradual 
edging  away,  as  though  a  nearer  acquaintance  would  be 
desirable  on  the  part  of  those  on  board  the  steamer. 

"  Well,  is  it  a  Yankee  gunboat,  or  is  it  a  blockade  run- 
ner like  ourselves?  "  asked  Mrs.  Go  wen,  who  manifested 
not  nearly  as  much  alarm  as  some  of  the  Southern  heroes 
on  board,  and  who  talked  fight  continually,  though  they 
had  never  been  in  a  battle. 

"  A  blockade  runner  wouldn't  want  to  speak  a  stran- 
ger," remarked  Captain  Pooduck  in  a  thoughtful  tone. 

"  Then  it  is  a  Yankee,"  Mrs.  Gowen  said ;  and,  as  she 
spoke,  I  saw  many  a  cheek  pale  at  the  idea  of  seeing  the 
inside  of  Fort  Lafayette  or  Fort  Warren. 

Captain  Pooduck  did  not  answer  the  last  remark  until 
he  had  placed  his  glass  to  his  eye,  and  taken  one  more 
long  and  strong  look.  Then  he  touched  a  bell  that  con- 


134  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 

nected  with  the  engineers'  room,  and  the  result  of  that 
signal  was  a  volume  of  smoke  that  poured  out  of  the 
funnel,  black  and  heavy,  caused  by  mixing  coal  with  pitch 
and  tar,  and  kept  separate  from  the  rest  of  the  fuel,  so 
that  it  could  be  used  in  such  an  emergency  as  this. 

The  effect  was  soon  manifested  by  an  increased  numbei 
of  revolutions  of  the  wheels,  by  the  fierce  hissing  of  the 
steam,  and  by  the  rapid  speed  of  the  Pet.  Yet  the  course 
of  the  steamer  was  not  altered;  and,  consequently,  every 
knot  that  we  made  only  brought  us  nearer  to  the  stranger, 
until  at  last  we  could  see  her  hull,  painted  a  dull  lead 
color,  as  sober  as  a  Quaker  arrayed  for  a  quarterly  confer- 
ence, and  not  a  sign  of  war  or  strife  to  be  observed.  All 
seemed  to  be  at  peace  on  board  of  that  craft ;  yet  Captain 
Pooduck  was  a  Yankee,  and  not  to  be  caught  by  a  fair 
exterior. 

"  Keep  her  off  two  points,"  said  the  master  of  the  Pet 
to  the  man  at  the  wheel. 

By  altering  our  course,  we  headed  in  the  same  direction 
as  the  stranger,  so  that  she  could  not  cross  our  bows  or 
near  us  without  edging  away. 

We  were  not  more  than  five  miles  apart,  the  stranger 
to  the  windward,  a  little  forward  of  our  beam,  and  appar- 
ently disposed  to  remain  in  that  position,  although  we 
could  tell  by  the  bearings  that  we  were  gradually  draw- 
ing ahead  of  the  lead-colored  craft,  and  that  we  sailed 
nearly  three  knots  to  his  two,  while  we  had  only  our  fore 
and  aft  sails  and  our  foretopsail  set. 

"  Not  a  single  port-hole  to  be  seen,"  muttered  Captain 
Pooduck,  as  he  once  more  put  the  glass  to  his  eye.  "  Con- 
found him !  if  it  is  a  Yankee  gunboat,  he  is  well  disguised. 
Only  half  a  dozen  men  on  deck,  and  some  of  'em  in  red 
shirts.  That  don't  look  much  like  a  man-of-war,  —  does 
it,  Mr.  Barn  well  ?  " 

Since  Mrs.  Gowen,  the  rich  Southern  heiress,  had  taken 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  135 

me  under  her  protection,  the  master  of  the  Pet  had  grown 
very  attentive  and  polite. 

"  Uncle  Sam  would  not  tolerate  red  shirts  even  if  his 
men  were  freezing,"  was  my  answer,  although  I  knew 
very  well  that  the  lead-colored  craft  was  a  Yan.kee  cruiser, 
disguised  as  a  blockade  runner. 

"Show  him  our  buntin',"  Pooduck  remarked  to  the 
mate ;  and  up  to  the  peak  went  an  English  flag,  while  at 
the  same  time  the  stranger  showed  similar  colors. 

"  Hang  him  !  now  I  know  he's  a  cheat,"  muttered  Poo- 
duck  ;  yet  there  were  many  on  board  who  thought  the 
captain  mistaken,  and  contended  that  one  of  our  gunboats 
would  not  dare  to  display  the  Cross  of  St.  George  unless 
authorized  ;  which  precious  nonsense  the  master  of  the  Pet 
treated  with  the  most  perfect  contempt. 

"  Do,  Mr.  Barnwell,  put  an  end  to  this  dispute,"  Mrs. 
Gowen  remarked,  as  she  laid  one  of  her  hands  on  my  arm. 
"  Come,  jou  are  a  sailor,  and  should  know  the  character 
of  yonder  fellow.  Oblige  me  by  giving  an  opinion." 

"  But  I  am  too  weak  to  climb  the  rigging,  or  look  through 
a  glass." 

"  True.  I  am  selfish.  I  had  forgotten  your  injured 
head." 

At  this  moment  my  eyes  fell  on  young  Harry  Bluff, 
who  had  shown  rne  so  much  attention,  and  cared  for  me 
the  night  before.  He  was  near  the  quarter-deck,  and  en- 
gaged in  swabbing  it  dry,  apparently  paying  not  the  least 
attention  to  the  conversation  that  was  taking  place  ;  yet 
he  could  not  have  failed  to  have  heard  all  that  passed. 

As  Mrs.  Gowen  spoke,  Harry  completed  his  task,  and 
was  about  to  leave  the  quarter-deck ;  but  as  he  walked 
forward,  he  gave  me  such  a  friendly,  peculiar  glance,  that 
T  could  not  help  sajdng,  — 

"  Harry,  drop  your  swab,  and  take  the  glass  aloft." 

He  threw  the  swab  forward,  seized  the  glass,  and  started 


136  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 

up  the  main  rigging  as  active  as  a  monkey,  while  [  fol- 
lowed slowly  so  that  I  should  not  disturb  my  head,  and 
set  it  to  aching. 

Harry  reached  the  cross-trees,  handed  me  the  glass,  and 
then  seated  himself  on  the  topgallant-yard,  and  chatted  on 
matters  and  things  in  general,  in  his  usual  lively  manner. 

The  stranger  was  not  more  than  four  miles  to  the  wind- 
ward, for  he  had  edged  away  a  little,  and  was  now  head- 
ing directly  for  Great  Bahama  Island,  while  our  course 
was  more  to  the  westward,  and  would  carry  us  between 
Florida  and  the  Island.  Land  was  in  sight  off  our  weather 
bow,  and  off  our  larboard  beam,  Abaco  Island  bearing 
about  east-south-east,  while  off  our  larboard  quarter  were 
the  little  keys  that  helped  form  che  Strait  of  Florida. 

While  I  was  looking  at  the  lead-colored  steamer,  Harry 
was  at  work  on  the  gasket  of  the  topgallant-sail ;  and, 
through  carelessness  on  his  part,  the  bunt  of  the  sail  and 
the  leash  escaped  from  his  hands,  and  shivered  and  slat- 
ted in  the  breeze,  shaking  the  blocks  and  clew-lines  so 
roughly  that  Captain  Pooduck's  attention  was  attracted, 
and  so  was  mine. 

It  was  one  of  the  secret  signals  of  Federal  service,  and 
the  shaking  of  that  sail  was  intended  to  convey  valuable  in- 
formation to  Uncle  Sam's  Navy. 

But  I  did  not  have  time  to  speak  or  draw  conclusions, 
for  the  sharp,  fierce  voice  of  Pooduck  was  heard  from 
the  quarter-deck,  shouting,  — 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  taking  the  gasket  off  that  'ere 
sail  ?  Who  told  you  to  do  that  ?  " 

"Sir?"  answered  Harry,  letting  the  sail  flap  for  the 
purpose  of  paying  proper  respect  to  the  quarter-deck. 

"  What  did  you  cast  that  sail  adrift  for?"  the  master 
of  the  Pet  yelled. 

"  I  didn't  do  it.  The  gasket  was  all  chafed,  and  when 
I  attempted  to  secure  it,  parted." 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  137 

And  as  Harry  spoke,  he  commenced  gathering  up  the 
fluttering  canvas,  and  stowing  it  on  the  yard,  and  then 
suddenly  releasing,  shouting  to  those  on  deck,  — 

"  Sheet  home !  "  just  as  though  he  had  received  orders 
to  once  more  loosen  the  sail. 

The  rage  of  Captain  Pooduck  was  frightful,  and  not 
even  the  presence  of  Mrs.  Gowen  was  sufficient  to  pre- 
vent him  from  uttering  some  very  original  oaths. 

"  Come  down,  you  lubber !  "  yelled  Pooduck,  "  or  I'll 
shoot  you  where  you  are." 

"Why,  didn't  you  order  me  to  let  the  sail  drop?" 
asked  Harry,  with  an  expression  of  genuine  terror  such  as 
I  dfd  not  think  he  could  show.  "  I  understood  you  to 
say  let  it  go.  Mr.  Barnwell,  in  the  cross-trees,  he  heard 
you  say  so  too,  — didn't  you,  Mr.  Barnwell  ?  " 

In  the  mean  time  the  sail  was  flapping  in  the  fresh  morn- 
ing breeze,  and  the  sharp  eyes  on  board  the  United  States 
cruiser  could  not  help  noticing  the  signal,  and  understand- 
ing it,  while  Captain  Pooduck  and  his  mate  were  abusing 
the  tarry  toplights  of  Harry,  and  then  turned  and  abused 
his  eyes  by  the  way  of  variety. 

"  They're  having  a  jolly  time  on  deck,"  Harry  re- 
marked, as  he  looked  down  at  the  raging  officers.  "  I 
'opes,  Mr.  Barnwell,  they  won't  turn  that  Blakely  gun  on 
us  what  they  carries  amidship.  They  seems  more  than 
half  inclined  to  do  so." 

"  Main-topmast  cross-trees,"  yelled  Pooduck. 

"  Sir,"  replied  Harry. 

"  What  are  you  doing  with  that  sail?  " 

"  Nothin',  sir.  I'm  waitin'  to  see  what  you  wants  done 
with  it/' 

"  Then  overhaul  the  clew-lines.  Sheet  it  home,  men  I 
I'll  settle  with  that  fellow  when  he  lays  down." 

"  Well,  Mr.  Barnwell,  I  s'pose  I'll  catch  it,"  remarked 

young  Bluff,  after  the  sail  was  sheeted  home,  and  the  yard 
10 


138  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

hoisted.  "  I  don't  relish,  a  pounding  at  the  hands  of 
such  a  slab-sided  Yankee ;  so  I  hope  you  will  stand  my 
friend." 

"  Yes,  I'll  do  that,  of  course ;  and,  if  I  can't  ward  off 
the  danger,  I'll  get  the  lady  to  try  her  hand.  Here,  take 
the  glass.  I  have  squinted  long  enough  at  that  Quaker- 
looking  gentleman." 

"  And  what  do  you  make  of  him  ?  " 

"  O,  it's  one  of  Uncle  Sam's  cruisers,  I  suppose." 

The  boy's  face  flushed,  and  I  thought  he  looked  a  little 
disappointed.  But  he  soon  rallied,  and  continued,  with 
affected  carelessness,  "  Well,  she's  a  slow  old  tub,  at  any 
rate,  and  we  can  move  two  fathoms  to  her  one.  There's 
no  fear  of  her  dropping  alongside  of  us  — is  there  ?  " 

•'  No  ;  T  should  think  not.  We  are  leaving  her  every 
moment." 

Then,  just  as  T  was  about  to  move  from  the  cross-trees, 
I  looked  in  the  young  fellow's  face,  and  remarked,  — 

"How  does  it  happen  that  you  can  talk  grammatically, 
all  ship-shape  and  Bristol  fashion,  at  one  moment,  and  the 
next  you  bring  out  the  fo'castle  lingo  in  lively  style  '7 
Come !  overhaul  your  thinking  log,  and  you'll  find  that 
my  position  is  correct." 

The  young  fellow  laughed,  blushed  a  little,  but  did  not 
hesitate  long  before  he  said, — 

"  Well,  the  fact  of  it  is,  Mr.  Barnwell,  I've  seen  better 
days.  Family  misfortunes  drove  me  to  sea.  Poverty  is  a 
great  curse,  sir  ;  and  my  father  was  afflicted  with  it :  so  I 
undertook  to  earn  my  own  living,  and  here  I  am.  That's 
the  reason  I  uses  one  kind  of  lingo  at  one  time,  and  an- 
other kind  of  lingo  when  I'm  in  the  fo'castle.  There's 
nothing  wrong  in  it,  is  there,  sir  ?" 

"  No,  my  lad ;  but  some  people  might  suspect  you  of 
being  above  your  station,  unless  they  understood  ali  the 
circumstances  of  your  life." 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  139 

With  these  words  of  caution  I  left  the  cross-trees,  and 
descended  to  the  deck,  Harry  following  me. 

"  Well,"  asked  Pooduck,  "  what  do  you  think  of  her?  ' 

I  was  just  as  well  aware  that  Pooduck  knew  the 
stranger  was  a  Federal  cruiser,  as  if  he  had  told  rae  his 
secret  thoughts  ;  so  I  considered  it  useless  to  disguise  my 
real  opinions,  and  suffer  in  the  estimation  of  the  master  of 
the  Pet.  In  answer  to  the  question,  I  said,  — 

"  O,  the  fellow  is  Yankee  all  over,  from  keel  to  truck  ; 
but  we  can  laugh  at  him,  for  we  have  heels  and  he  has 
none." 

"  Jist  as  I  thought,"  he  said.  "  Keep  her  off  a  p'int ; '' 
to  the  man  at  the  wheel.  "  We'll  see  if  he  wants  to  fol- 
low us  to  the  Gulf  of  Florida. 

The  lead-colored  cruiser  did  not  seem  disposed  to  take 
further  notice  of  us,  for  she  kept  on  her  course,  and  grad- 
ually dropped  off  the  quarter ;  but  there  she  hung,  neither 
gaining  nor  losing,  the  whole  of  the  forenoon.  This  puz- 
zled Captain  Pooduck  and  myself  ;  but  we  settled  the 
matter  by  agreeing  that  the  gunboat  must  have  a  favora- 
ble current,  while  we  were  compelled  to  stem  it,  and  that 
the  difference  was  equal  to  two  knots  per  hour. 

But  long  before  such  conclusions  were  arrived  at,  Harry 
Bluff  had  been  pardoned  by  the  captain,  at  my  solicitation, 
the  mistake  being  explained,  and  the  passengers  were  sum- 
moned to  breakfast.  This  meal  consisted  of  regular  hotel 
fare,  —  turtle  from  one  of  the  sand-keys,  fruit  from  Nas- 
sau, coffee  from  Java,  and  delicacies  from  Liverpool,  where 
the  Pet  was  partly  owned. 

As  none  of  the  passengers  were  sea-sick,  they  did  jus- 
tice to  the  good  things  on  the  table,  and  then  adjourned 
to  the  deck,  where  they  could  smoke,  talk  treason,  laugh  at 
Uncle  Sam's  slow-sailing  gunboats,  and  indulge  in  dreama 
of  the  future  Southern  confederacy. 

As  we  arose  from  the  table,  Mrs.  Gowen  signalized  that 


140  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

she  wanted  me  ;  so  I  waited  until  the  rest  of  the  passen- 
gers had  left  the  cabin. 

"  I  want  you  to  see  my  husband,"  the  lady  said.  "He 
desires  to  speak  to  you,  and  thank  you  for  what  you  have 
done.  His  face  is  terrible  ;  but  you  will  not  see  much  of 
it,  covered  as  it  is  with  a  plaster.  John,"  she  continued, 
turning  to  a  smart-looking  mulatto,  a  servant  and  slave 
given  to  the  lady  by  her  father  when  she  was  married,  — 
"tell  your  master  that  Mr.  Barnwell  is  about  to  visit  him." 

The  slave  bowed,  and  entered  a  state-room. 

"  How  did  you  dare  to  take  that  young  fellow  to  Nas- 
sau ?  ''  I  asked.  "  Did  you  not  fear  that  he  would  leave 
you  ?  " 

"  No  ;  John  is  a  slave,  but  he  would  not  take  his  free- 
dom if  it  were  offered  him.  I  have  no  fear  of  his  leaving 
me.  We  were  brought  up  together." 

"Is  it  possible,"  I  thought,  "  that  I  have  seen  one  slave 
who  has  no  aspirations  for  independence  and  freedom '' 
Such  must  be  the  case  ;  for,  if  he  had  desired  freedom,  he 
would  have  taken  it  when  on  English  ground." 

I  entered  the  state-room,  and  found  the  Scotch  surgeon 
dressing  the  face  of  Mr.  Gowen.  The  injured  man  put 
out  his  hand,  and  gave  me  a  friendly  welcome,  and  then 
said  something  complimentary ;  but  his  nerves  were  all 
unstrung,  and  he  appeared  little  better  than  a  wreck. 
I  went  on  deck,  and  took  a  survey  of  the  situation.  We 
were  steaming  through  the  Northwest  Channel,  with  Ber- 
ry Island  and  Stirrup  Key  off  the  larboard  quarter,  and 
the  Great  Bahama  off  the  starboard  bow,  while  the  head 
of  the  Pet  was  pointed  in  the  direction  of  Florida, — 
Captain  Pooduck  preferring  to  take  this  exposed  and  open 
course  to  running  close  to  the  Keys,  on  account  of  the 
Federal  gunboats,  which  cut  off  the  usual  route,  or  at  least 
rendered  it  more  dangerous  than  when  simple  merchant- 
men were  in  sight. 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  141 

"You  see,"  says  the  master  of  the  Pet,  "  that  we  steam 
three  knots  to  the  Yankee's  one.  By  to-morrow  morniii 
she'll  be  out  of  sight." 

Mrs.  Go  wen  came  on  deck  just  at  this  moment,  with  a 
smile  on  her  face  and  a  dangerous  light  in  her  eves  ;  I 
knew  she  was  bent  on  mischief.  But  the  nature  of  that 
mischief  I  could  only  guess  ;  for  as  I  approached  her,  she 
whispered,  — 

"Leave  me  with  that  odious,  renegade  Yankee  a  short 
time,  for  I  want  to  pump  him,  and  learn  how  it  happens 
that  you  are  on  board." 

I  informed  her  that  she  would  confer  a  great  favor  on 
me  if  she  could  obtain  the  truth  ;  and  then  I  left  her  to 
beguile  the  skipper  by  her  blandishments  and  smiles, 
while  I  went  forward  to  smoke  a  cigar,  and  make  friends 
with  some  of  the  passengers. 

There  were  ten  of  them.  One  was  a  gentleman  who 
had  just  returned  from  Europe  loaded  with  despatches  for 
the  Southern  Confederacy.  He  talked  loud,  and  swore 
the  new  republic  would  be  acknowledged  in  less  than  two 
months  by  both  France  and  England,  and  that  those  na- 
tions would  combine  to  break  the  blockade. 

In  the  course  of  an  hour  or  less,  Captain  Pooduck  con- 
cluded his  conversation  with  Mrs.  Go  wen,  and  went  to 
his  state-room  to  look  at  his  charts  and  take  a  dose  of  whis- 
key, of  which  he  was  rather  fond.  As  soon  as  he  had 
left  the  deck,  I  hastened  to  join  the  lady,  whose  eyes  wel- 
comed me  as  I  took  a  seat  by  her  side. 

"  No'.y,"  she  said,  "  I  can  tell  you  all  that  the  master 
imparted  to  me.  Listen  and  wonder  at  what  I  relate.  It 
seems  that  Colonel  Rhett  had  some  grudge  against  you, 
or  else  fancied  that  he  had.  At  any  rate,  he  met  Captain 
Pooduck  List  evening  on  board  of  this  vessel,  and  informed 
him  that  you  were  a  man  the  confederacy  wanted  at  home, 
and  that  a  hundred  bales  of  cotton  would  bfi  given  to 


142  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 

the  person  who  delivered  you  to  any  Southern  provost- 
marshal.  Theu  he  bargained  that  Captain  Pooduck  should 
take  charge  of  you,  and  give  you  up  on  arriving  at  Wil- 
mington. When  the  trade  was  concluded,  the  parties 
went  on  shore  to  find  you,  and  concoct  some  scheme  for 
inducing  you  to  visit  the  Pet.  Fortune  favored  them  ; 
for  just  as  they  landed,  the  colonel,  who  was  disguised, 
saw  you  on-  the  beach,  and  knew  you  in  spite  of  your 
sailor  clothes.  They  altered  their  plan  in  an  instant.  One 
of  the  sailors  was  sent  to  strike  you  senseless  with  a  slung- 
shot,  and  the  villain  performed  the  work  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  those  who  watched  the  result." 

"  I  hope  I  shall  live  long  enough  to  pay  the  gentle- 
men for  their  attention,"  I  remarked. 

"  I  hope  you  will,"  was  the  reply.  "  Count  on  me  to 
assist  you."  Then  she  continued  :  "  While  you  were  in- 
sensible, the  captain  ordered  that  you  should  be  taken  on 
board  the  Pet,  and  placed  in  the  forecastle  as  one  of  the 
crew  ;  and  there  you  would  have  remained  until  the  -ves- 
sel reached  port  had  I  not  been  on  board.  The  captain 
knows  that  I  have  influence,  and  he  dare  not  offend  me. 
But  I  am  thankful  that  I  saved  you  some  rough  treat- 
ment :  and  that's  the  end  of  my  story.  Now  what  do  you 
think  of  such  rascality  ?  " 

"  I  think  that  Colonel  Rhett  and  Captain  Pooduck  will 
one  day  repent  of  their  share  in  the  transaction." 

"  But  why  should  that  boasting  Virginia  colonel  plot 
against  you  ?  " 

"  Because  I  detected  him  stealing  on  board  the  Growler." 

"  What !  one  of  the  first  families  of  Virginia?  "  and  the 
lady  laughed.  "  I  knew  some  were  mean  enough  for  most 
anything,  but  I  supposed  they  were  sufficiently  shrewd  to 
escape  detection  when  thieving." 

I  then  explained  why  Rhett  did  not  like  me,  and  the 
lady  was  astonished  at  what  I  said  ;  and  in  talking  and 


RUNNING  THE    BLOCKADE.  143 

la-aghing,  reading  and  smoking,  the  first  day  on  board  the 
Pet  passed  off  rapidly,  and  at  night  we  saw  the  Great- 
Isaac  Light,  while  the  Federal  gunboat,  at  eight  o'clock, 
was  more  than  five  miles  astern,  but  still  holding  her  own 
hi  a  wonderful  manner. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  CHASE.  —  A  SIGNAL.  —  A  EESPONSE.  —  A  SURPRISED 
MASTER.  —  AN  APPARITION.  —  MORE  TROUBLE  FOR 
THE  PET.  —  THREE  MORE  STEAMERS  IN  SIGHT.  —  POO- 
DUCK'S  BLOOD  IS  UP.  —  A  MEETING.  —  A  TIGHT  SPOT. 
—  A  PRIZE  TO  THE  STINGEREE.  —  A  BLUFF  CAPTAIN.  — 
A  SURPRISE.  —  HARRY  AND  OLD  BEN  IN  NEW  PARTS. 

As  soon  as  night  set  in,  the  captain  of  the  blockade 
runner  commenced  making  preparations  for  throwing  the 
Federal  gunboat  off  the  track ;  and  to  do  this  it  was 
necessary  that  all  our  lights  should  be  extinguished,  and 
the  course  of  the  vessel  changed, 

"  I  needn't  tell  you  that  I  is  bound  for  Wilmington," 
said  the  captain,  as  we  walked  the  deck  after  the  lights 
were  all  extinguished  but  the  one  in  the  binnacle,  and 
that  so  screened  that  its  rays  could  not  be  reflected.  "It 
can  do  -no  harm  to  let  out  that  much.  I  has  a  valuable 
cargo  under  hatches,  and  if  I  runs  it  in  my  fortune's 
made ;  so  you  see  I  has  no  wish  to  take  risks.  In  the 
mornin'  we  shall  be  clear  of  that  fellow  what  is  astern, 
burnin'  out  coal  for  no  use  at  all,  'cos  we  can  out-steam  him 
as  easy  as  rollin'  off  a  log." 

Just  at  this  instant  the  chase  threw  up  a  rocket,  that 
burst  after  it  was  many  fathoms  above  the  water,  and 
showed  hundreds  of  green  stars  in  all  directions 


144  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  What  in  the  deuce  does  that  mean  ?  "  demanded  Cap- 
tain Pood  uck. 

The  question  was  one  that  I  could  not  answer ;  so  re- 
mained silent  when  the  captain  spoke,  and  pretended  to 
be  as  much  surprised  as  he  was. 

"  Can  the  chap  mean  that  he  wants  to  spe.ak  us,"  con 
tinned  Pooduck.     "  He  must  be  green  if  he  thinks  I'm 
goin'  to  allow  myself  to  be  drawn  under  the  range  of  his 
guns." 

Just  at  this  moment,  while  the  captain  was  indulging  in 
a  quiet  chuckle  at  the  thought  of  such  stupidity,  we 
heard  a  whizzing  sound,  and  then  a  bright  light  flashed 
over  the  deck,  and  away  up  in  the  heavens  sped  a  red- 
colored  rocket,  with  sparkles  that  resembled  drops  of 
blood. 

Some  one  on  board  the  Pet  had  answered  the  signal  of 
the  Federal  gunboat. 

For  a  moment  Captain  Pooduck  was  speechless  with  as- 
tonishment. He  could  hardly  believe  his  eyes  or  his  ears ; 
but,  as  the  light  of  the  rocket  faded  away,  he  recovered 
his  senses,  and,  drawing  a  revolver  from  his  breast,  rushed 
forward  to  shoot  the  man  who  had  dared  to  answer  the 
gunboat's  signal. 

'•  Who  did  that  ?  "  he  demanded  in  a  loud  tone. 

No  one  answered  the  question.  The  men  were  appar- 
ently as  much  astonished  as  Captain  Pooduck.  I  feared 
that  my  young  friend  Harry  Bluff  Lad  committed  the  act, 
and,  if  detected,  I  knew  that  I  could  not  save  him  this 
time  ;  but  as  I  glanced  around  the  deck,  I  saw  the  dashing 
and  reckless  little  sailor  curled  up  on  the  fore  hatch,  his 
head  on  a  huge  coil  of  rope,  and  apparently  sound  asleep. 

"Who  sent  up  that  'ere  rocket?"  again  yelled  Poo- 
duck ;  and  he  flourished  his  revolver  in  so  nervous  and 
reckless  a  manner,  that  I  feared  he  would  shoot  the  first 
one  who  spoke.  But  all  the  men  clustered  on  the  fore- 


RUNNING   THE  BLOCKADE.  14o 

castle  and  around  the  fore  hatch  seemed  as  much  astonished 
as  the  master  of  the  vessel ;  and  one  old  salt,  a  grizzly 
fellow  with  a  red  nose  and  a  hard  and  weather-beaten 
countenance,  grunted  out, — 

"We  don't  know  who  sent  that  'ere  rocket  up;  but  I 
knows  if  I  could  pick  him  out,  he  would  walk  a  plank 
in  short  order." 

"Haven't  you  any  idea  who  sent  it  up?"  Pooduck 
asked,  still  trembling  with  rage  and  fear  lest  some  one 
should  escape  his  vengeance. 

"  No,  sir,"  old  Ben  replied.  "  I  was  at  anchor  here  on 
the  windlass,  and  Jimkins  was  spinnin'  a  yarn  about  the 
last  trip  he  made  with  yer,  when  all  at  once  we  heard  a 
whiz  and  whirl,  and  up  went  the  rocket." 

"  Turn  up  the  hands  !"  cried  Pooduck.  "  Turn  up  the 
hands,  Mr.  Cringle,"  addressing  the  mate.  —  a  fat,  red- 
faced  Englishman,  with  a  pair  of  shoulders  like  an  ele- 
phant. "  Call  every  one  of  'em,  and  let's  see  what  we 
can  make  out  of  it." 

The  starboard  watch,  which  was  turned  in,  mustered 
on  deck ;  and  all  of  the  larboard  watch,  excepting  the 
lookout  and  the  man  at  the  wheel,  was  collected.  Not  a 
sailor  was  missing.  Harry  Bluff  had  been  roused  from  his 
sleep  on  the  fore  hatch,  and  was  as  much  surprised  as  the 
men  who  were  below  respecting  the  rocket. 

"  Well,  men,"  said  Captain  Pooduck,  as  soon  as  all 
hands  were  mustered,  "  I  have  called  you  up  to  see  if  any 
of  you  knows  anything  about  that  rocket  what  was  fired 
from  the  forecastle." 

There  was  no  response. 

"  We  was  snoozin',sir,"  at  last  the  starboard  watch  re- 
sponded, with  almost  one  voice  ;  "so  we  can't  know  much 
about  it." 

"  That  is  true,  sir,"  old  Ben  said,  touching  his  cap. 
"  They  was  all  turned  in,  'cos  I'm  sure  of  it,  havin'  been 


146  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 

in  the  house  but  a  few  minutes  afore  to  light  my  pipe. 
At  that  time,  sir,  some  of  the  chaps  was  snorin'  as  though 
they  was  makin'  steam  very  fast,  sir  ;  and  as  for  the  chaps 
on  deck,  there  was  Harry — he  was  calkin'  the  fore 
hatch  ;  and  Bob  —  he  was  on  the  lookout ;  and  the  rest 
of  us  was  spinnin'  yarns  around  the  windlass.  So  I  don't 
think,  sir,  that  any  one  for'ard  did  it ;  and  it's  my  opinion, 
sir,  that  some  one  who  belongs  aft  did  the  job.  That's 
what  I  thinks.'' 

This  was  a  stunning  surmise,  and  it  almost  took  away 
Pooduck's  breath. 

"  So  none  of  you  know  anything  of  the  matter  ?  "  the 
master  said. 

Not  one  of  the  men  would  acknowledge  that  he  could 
give  the  least  information  on  the  subject  of  the  mysterious 
rocket ;  and  at  length  Pooduck  turned  to  me,  and  asked 
me  to  walk  aft  a  short  distance. 

We  talked  the  matter  all  over  for  half  an  hour,  and 
then  were  unable  to  settle  on  any  person  in  the  cabin  who 
would  be  likely  to  aid  the  Federals  ;  but  at  last  we  arrived 
at  the  conclusion  that  one  of  the  men  had  sent  up  the 
rocket  merely  for  the  fun  of  the  thing,  aud  not  in  the 
hope  of  warning  the  gunboat,  or  of  signalizing  to  her  our 
course.  As  soon  as  Captain  Pooduck  arrived  at  such  a 
conclusion,  in  which  I  joined  him  of  course,  his  mind  was 
more  at  ease,  and  he  could  even  laugh  at  the  incident 
without  displaying  any  temper. 

•'  I  must  have  frightened  the  scamps,"  the  master  said,  as 
he  lighted  a  Cuba  cigar,  "  when  I  p'inted  my  pistol  at  'em." 

Hardly  had  these  words  passed  the  captain's  lips,  when 
we  again  heard  a  familiar  whiz,  and  then  saw  the  pecu- 
liar light  of  a  rocket.  Up  into  the  air  it  went,  soaring 
until  it  burst  and  scattered  stars  in  all  directions  ;  and,  as 
they  fell  towards  the  sea,  Captain  Pooduck  awakened  to 
the  fact  that  signalizing  by  rockets  was  no  longer  a  joke. 


RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE.  147 

He  uttered  a  terrible  oath  as  he  rushed  forward  In  hopes 
of  detecting  the  person  who  had  dared  to  trifle  with  his 
orders.  Mr.  Cringle  and  I  followed  as  fast  as  possible, 
and  reached  the  forecastle  just  in  time  to  find  the  master 
laying  about  with  a  rope's  end,  hitting  every  head  that 
he  could  reach  and  see,  and  swearing  like  a  genuine  Nassau 
pirate  who  had  been  disappointed  in  running  the  blockade. 
The  sailors  were  not  such  fools  as  to  stand  and  be  pound- 
ed; so  they  jumped  out  of  the  way  with  all  the  agilit}  of 
young  salts,  and  various  were  the  remarks  made  at  the  un- 
expected assault. 

"  Blast  my  bloody  eyes !  "  said  Ben,  who  was  on  the 
topgallant  forecastle,  and  had  escaped  the  end  of  the  rope. 
"  But  what  does  this  mean  ?  Do  you  think  that  we  are 
niggers,  to  be  beat  over  the  head  in  this  way  ?  " 

"  Rascals !  "  roared  the  master,  "  who  sent  up  that 
rocket  ?  Tell  me,  or  I'll  clap  you  all  in  irons.  A  hun- 
dred dollars  for  the  name  of  the  man  what  did  it." 

"  Avast  a  bit  with  the  rope's  end,  cap'n,"  said  Ben,  and 
we'll  try  and  work  the  thing  out  by  dead  reckonin',  as  we 
was  doin'  when  you  comes  for'ard." 

The  master  dropped  his  rope  and  prepared  to  listen, 
although  he  was  in  a  terrible  rage,  and  could  hardly  keep 
still  long  enough  to  hear  what  was  offered. 

"  I  tells  you  what  it  is,  cap'n,"  the  old  salt  said,  with  an 
uneasy  glance  over  his  shoulder,  as  though  fearful  that  lie 
should  see  something,  "them  'ere  rockets  was  not  scut 
up  by  any  of  the  Pet's  crew.  No  human  hands  done  it. 
sir,  I'm  sure.  Spirits,  sir,  is  at  work  with  us." 

Sailors  are  superstitious,  and  always  attribute  to  un- 
earthly agency  matters  for  which  they  cannot  account  ; 
so  I  did  not  wonder  that  Pooduck  for  a  moment  was 
startled  at  the  suggestion  of  the  old  salt.  But  the  captain 
Boon  rallied. 

"  You  fool !  "  he  shouted,  "  ghosts  don't  throw  up  rock- 


148  RUNNING    THE    BLOCKADE. 

ets,  and  cut  up  like  that.  Ghosts  ain't  such  blamed  fools 
That  yarn  won't  go  down  with  me." 

"  Well,  sir,  perhaps  not ;  but  if  people  from  the  othei 
world  didn't  do  it,  who  did  ?  I  has  had  my  weather-eye 
upon  all  the  watch,  and  I  hasn't  seen  none  of  the  Pet's 
crew  figurin'  with  rockets." 

"  I  don't  believe  a  blasted  word  of  ghosts  or  spirits," 
the  master  muttered.  "  There's  some  blamed  spy  on 
board,  and  he  wants  the  gunboat  to  foller  us  all  night. 
Now  I  tell  you,  men,  that  if  I  can  lay  my  ten  command- 
ments on  him,  he'll  never  send  up  another  rocket,  or  make 
another  signal  to  a  Yankee  cruiser,  you  can  bet  on  that." 

"  Ah,  sir  !  the  works  of  spirits  is  wonderful,"  murmured 
Ben,  with  another  glance  over  his  shoulder.  "  I  has 
been  a  sailor  for  twenty-five  year,  man  and  boy  ;  and  I 
has  seen  some  strange  things  in  my  time.  I  could  tell 
you  of  matters  what  would  make  your  hair  stand  right  up 
on  end,  like  the  bowsprit  of  a  Dutch  galliot,  or  a  man- 
of-war's  yard  a-cockbill." 

"  Shut  up,  you  blasted  fool !  "  roared  the  master,  who 
saw  that  the  crew  were  becoming  affected  with  Ben's 
superstition.  "  All  the  spirits  what  you  ever  saw  were  in 
a  tin  pot  or  a  black  bottle." 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  but  I've  seen  some  come  right  out  of  their 
hammocks,  arter  they  had  been  sewed  up  and  launched 
overboard  with  a  round  shot  at  their  feet.  I  knowed  one 
—  she  was  the  wife  of  Bill  Birch,  a  marine  —  what  was  on 
board  the  Asia,  —  a  eighty-gun  ship,  sir, — and  she  was 
buried  in  a  coffin  on  shore,  all  shipshape,  as  the  land  lubbers 
do  that  kind  of  things.  She  was  a  good  and  pious  woman, 
sir,  and  used  to  take  on  bad  when  Bill  swiped  it  rather 
rough  ;  and  arter  she  was  dead,  she'd  come  to  him  all  in 
her  coffin,  and  tell  him  what  she  thought  of  him;  and 
once  or  twice,  when  he  cut  up  bad,  she  appeared  to  him, 
and  scratched  his  face  with  her  ten  commandments  ;  and 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  149 

when  Bill  got  over  his  horrors,  he  used  to  tell  just  how 
she  worked  him,  and  how  she  looked." 

Before  any  one  could  speak,  Harry  Bluff,  who  seemed 
'.o  take  much  interest  in  the  yarn  which  Ben  had  spun, 
suddenly  looked  over  his  shoulder,  and  exclaimed,  with 
shattering  teeth,  "  What's  that  ?  " 

All  eyes  were  turned  in  the  direction  of  the  heel  of  the 
bowsprit,  where  Harry  pointed. 

Slowly,  and  with  many  ominous  motions  of  head  and 
arms,  a  tall,  white  figure  arose  in  the  very  eyes  of  the 
steamer,  apparently  depending  upon  one  of  the  catheads 
for  a  foothold  ;  and  there  it  rested  for  a  second  or  two, 
and  then  vanished,  disappearing  as  suddenly  as  though  it 
had  fallen  overboard. 

With  wild  cries  of  alarm  all  rushed  aft.  Captain  Pooduck 
was  borne  by  the  rush  to  the  quarter-deck ;  and  when  I 
joined  him  there,  I  saw  that  he  was  as  much  puzzled  at 
what  had  occurred  as  any  man  on  board,  although  he  had 
too  much  Yankee  common  sense  to  believe  that  a  ghost  had 
visited  the  Pet,  even  if  it  had  frightened  all  hands  into 
convulsions.  We  made  another  search,  but  could  not  trace 
the  source  of  the  signals,  or  find  the  figure  in  white,  so 
gave  it  up  for  the  time. 

By  six  bells,  or  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  all  the  pas- 
sengers had  turned  in,  leaving  the  deck  to  the  watch. 
Tired,  and  rather  weak  from  the  effects'  of  the  wound  on 
my  head,  I  soon  fell  asleep,  and  remained  unconscious  till 
next  morning,  when  I  was  awakened  by  a  tremendous 
commotion  on  deck.  The  loud  roar  of  Pooduck's  nasal 
tones,  the  slapping  of  canvas,  the  cries  of  the  men  as 
they  pulled  and  hauled  on  ropes,  —  all  convinced  me  that 
something  unusual  had  occurred.  I  turned  out,  dressed 
as  quickly  as  possible,  and  started  for  the  deck. 

In  the  cabin  I  met  John,  the  mulatto  slave,  with  a  cup 
of  coffee  in  his  hand,  intended  for  his  mistress  or  master. 


150  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 

"  What's  the  trouble  on  deck  ?  "  I  asked  the  servant. 

"  Heap  of  trouble,  sir,"  was  the  grinning  answer.  "  No 
less  than  three  strange  steamers  in  sight,  sir." 

"  Well,  that  is  no  unusual  occurrence,"  I  replied. 

"  No,  sir  ;  but  it  happens  that  they  are  all  heading  for 
this  vessel." 

"The  deuce  the}7  are  !  " 

With  this  somewhat  anxious  expression,  I  went  up  the 
cabin  steps,  and  found  Pooduck  raving  like  a  madman, 
stopping  every  few  minutes  to  look  through  his  glass  at 
the  strange  vessels.  When  he  did  this,  he  ceased  swear- 
ing ;  but  being  fully  convinced  that  the  three  steamers 
were  Union  men-of-war,  and  that  they  were  making  great 
efforts  to  overhaul  the  Pet,  his  rage  knew  no  bounds. 

There  was  a  large  gunboat  not  more  than  three  miles 
astern  of  the  Pet  and,  from  the  rig  of  the  craft,  we  had 
no  doubt  but  that  it  was  the  one  we  had  seen  the  day 
before.  This  was  the  first  vessel  Pooduck  called  my  atten- 
tion to  ;  and  he  uttered  rare  oaths  when  he  pointed  to  her. 

"  Look  at  the  blasted  Quaker,"  he  said,  "  with  her 
drab  sides  and  cat-like  air !  We  thought  the  Pet  could 
steam  three  knots  to  her  two  ;  but  you  see  she  has  hung 
on  to  us  all  night,  and  now  she  is  doin'  her  purtiest  to 
come  up  to  us." 

It  was  evident  that  the  gunboat  was  making  an  effort ; 
but  the  speed  of  the  Pet  had  been  tested  in  many  a  trial, 
and  never  found  wanting  ;  so  that,  as  far  as  the  craft 
astern  was  concerned,  Captain  Pooduck  had  no  great  fear. 
But  he  did  gnash  his  teeth,  and  swear  oaths  which  I  must 
not  repeat,  when  he  seized  my  arm,  and  told  me  to  look  in 
another  direction. 

"  Blast  'em  !  "  he  muttered,  "  they  have  spread  a  net, 
and  think  they  will  make  a  haul;  but  the  Pet  has  heels 
and  will  show  'em  what  she  can  do." 

He  touched  a  bell,  and  signalized  for  more  steam. 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  151 

Soon  a  dense  volume  of  smoke  poured  out  of  the  stack, 
smelling  strongly  as  though  pitch  had  been  thrown  upon 
the  fire  to  enable  the  engineer  to  comply  with  the 
demand. 

Pooduck  then  pointed  to  the  southward  and  westward  ; 
and  there,  just  off  our  larboard-beam,  was  another  steamer, 
—  lead-colored,  low  in  the  water,  clipper-looking,  but 
appearing  as  demure  as  the  fellow  astern. 

"  This  looks  serious,"  I  remarked,  as  I  examined  the 
drab-colored  gunboats,  and  noticed  that  dense  volumes  of 
smoke  were  issuing  from  their  funnels. 

"  I  should  think  it  did,"  said  Pooduck,  in  a  dry  tone. 
"  But,  blast  it !  that  ain't  the  worst.  Look  there  !  " 

In  the  direction  indicated  was  a  third  steamer,  —  lead- 
colored  like  the  rest,  clipper-built,  with  three  masts,  and 
yards  and  sails,  like  a  three-masted  topsail  schooner  ;  and 
this  one  was  just  ahead  of  us,  lying  apparently  motionless, 
with  no  smoke  issuing  from  her  stack,  and  no  white  water 
near  her  paddle-wheels.  She  was  under  easy  sail,  and 
standing  on  the  same  course  as  ourselves. 

There  was  but  one  way  to  escape,  or  one  way  that 
.promised  hope  of  success.  This  was  to  furl  all  sail, 
crowd  on  steam,  and  dash  through  the  line  that  enclosed 
us.  There  was  a  prospect  that  success  would  crown  a 
bold  effort ;  but  all  would  depend  on  the  speed  of  the 
Pet.  If  she  could  steam  three  fathoms  to  the  gunboats' 
one,  we  might  escape,  unless  a  shot  from  a  Parrott  gun 
overhauled  us,  and  damaged  our  machinery. 

On  the  other  hand,  if  we  edged  away,  we  should  run 
on  a  sand  bank,  and  have  the  pleasure  of  being  taken  from 
the  wreck  by  Uncle  Sam's  officials ;  and,  as  I  wanted  to 
put  as  much  money  in  their  pockets  as  possible,  I  advised 
the  latter  course. 

"  No,  we'll  have  a  race,  and  be  darned  to  'em  !  "  muttered 
Pooduck,  as  he  touched  the  bell  leading  to  the  engine- 


152  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

room,  and  gave  orders  to  the  man  at  the  wheel  to  star- 
board his  helm  so  that  the  head  of  the  Pet  was  pointed 
just  astern  of  the  steamer  off  our  beam. 

The  reader  should  bear  in  mind  that  the  steamer  astern 
was  not  more  than  three  miles  from  us,  while  the  one  off 
the  starboard  beam  was  about  five  miles  distant,  and  that 
we  were  to  attempt  passing  between  them. 

The  Pet  began  to  tremble  as  she  was  forced  through  the 
water  under  a  full  head  of  steam.  She  moved  so  fast  that 
sometimes  she  did  not  have  a  chance  to  rise  when  a  heavy 
swell  met  her,  but  ploughed  right  through  it,  splitting  the 
wave  like  a  wedge,  and  flooding  the  deck  with  water. 

"  Now  we  move,"  said  Pooduck,  and  a  cold  smile  passed 
over  his  haggard  face.  "I  think  we  shall  do  the  trick." 

In  fact  there  did  seem  a  prospect  that  such  would  be 
the  case,  for  the  gunboats  did  not  appear  to  notice  the 
change,  but  kept  on  their  course  ;  but  hardly  had  the 
smile  passed  from  the  master's  face,  before  I  saw  the 
steamer  to  the  windward  of  us  wear  short  round,  turning 

7  O 

on  her  heel  like  a  marine  on  parade,  and  then  point  her 
nose  so  as  to  cross  our  bows,  while  the  craft  that  was  astern 
vomited  a  cloud  of  black  smoke,  and  then  luffed  up  some 
six  points,  rolled  up  her  canvas  as  if  by  magic,  braced  her 
yards  sharp  up,  started  men  aloft  to  send  down  topgal- 
lant yards  and  masts  at  the  same  time,  and  in  five  minutes 
all  this  work  was  accomplished,  and  the  gunboat  was 
standing  along  nearly  the  same  course  as  ourselves. 

"  Cap'n,"  said  one  of  the  hot-headed  Southerners,  the 
bearer  of  despatches  to  the  confederates,  all  of  his  papers 
being  in  a  lead  box  which  he  was  to  throw  overboard  if 
capture  seemed  imminent,  "  do  you  mean  to  let  the  Yan- 
kees get  us  ?  'Cos,  if  you  do,  we  want  to  understand  it, 
that's  all." 

"  O,  go  to  the  deuce!  "  retorted  the  perplexed  master. 
"  Don't  bother  me  at  the  present  time." 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  153 

"  But  I  mean   to  understand  this  'ere  thing.     I  have  a 

sponsible  position,  and  can't  afford  to  trust  to  the  mere 

word. of  a  doubted  Yankee,  —  I   can't.     I'm   a  Virginia 

gentleman,  I  am,  and  belong  to  one  of  the  first  families  ; 

and  you  can't  come  no  Yankee  trick  on  me." 

Pooduck  looked  wild  with  rage,  but  self-interest  kept 
him  within  bounds.  He  thought  of  the  gold  he  was  to 
gain  by  running  the  blockade ;  so  he  submitted  to  the 
despatch-bearer's  insolence,  in  hope  that  it  would  soon 
end. 

We  had  run  so  close  to  the  gunboats  that  we  could 
make  out  their  hull  without  the  aid  of  a  glass.  It  was 
evident  that  we  could  not  pass  between  the  two  without 
receiving  such  a  fire  as  would  send  us  to  the  bottom  in 
short  order  ;  for  the  Union  ships  were  nearing  each  other 
so  rapidly,  that,  if  we  kept  on,  they  would  soon  be  within 
half  a  mile  of  us.  I  was  delighted,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
with  the  position  of  affairs,  hoping  that  we  should  soon  be 
captured ;  but  I  could  not  understand  what  Pooduck 
meant  by  being  so  rash  ;  and  while  I  was  silently  wonder- 
ing, the  rest  of  the  passengers  had  urged  the  despatch- 
bearer  to  once  more  assail  the  master  of  the  Pet. 

"  Do  you  mean  to  betray  us,  sir  ?  Answer  me  that," 
the  Virginian  cried,  with  all  the  arrogance  that  he  could 
assume. 

Pooduck  turned  on  the  man  like  a  wounded  lion,  all  of 
his  Maine  blood  boiling  with  rage  and  insulted  dignity.  He 
forgot  the  dreaded  confederate  government,  his  blpckade- 
running  profits,  cotton  and  tobacco,  and  other  articles  that 
commanded  high  prices. 

"  You  blamed  Southern  dog !  "  the  Yankee  howled, 
and  with  one  blow  of  his  hard,  bony  fist  struck  the  de- 
spatch-bearer on  the  face,  and  down  he  fell,  thumping 
the  deck  with  his  head,  and  leaving  btains  of  blood  on  the 

white  planks. 
11 


154  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  Curses  on  you, cowardly  dog!"  the  Yankee  renegade 
said ;  and  he  spurned  with  his  foot  the  body  of  the  man 
lying  before  him. 

This  was  more  than  the  chivalry  could  endure,  and,  true 
to  their  instincts,  they  thrust  their  hands  in  their  pock- 
ets, and  produced  revolvers  and  bowie-knives.  They  could 
not  look  on  and  see  one  of  their  number  maltreated  by  a 
low,  money-making  blockade  runner,  who  should  be 
classed  as  one  of  the  "poor  whites,"  and  therefore  of  no 
account. 

"  Let  the  gentleman  alone,"  the  dark-eyed  Southern- 
ers said,  as  they  crowded  towards  Pooduck,  weapons  in 
hand. 

The  master  of  the  Pet  did  not  shrink  from  the  encoun- 
ter. He  did  not  appear  to  take  the  least  notice  of  the 
threatening  attitude  of  the  passengers,  his  whole  attention 
and  fury  being  concentrated  on  the  prostrate  man,  the 
fellow  who  had  dared  to  insult  him  on  his  quarter-deck  in 
the  presence  of  his  crew. 

As  the  despatch-bearer,  rather  humbled,  attempted  to 
rise  from  the  deck,  Pooduck  gave  him  a  kick  that  sent 
him  sprawling  once  more  ;  and  no  sooner  had  he  inflicted 
this  last  indignity  upon  the  representative  of  one  of  the 
first  families  of  Virginia,  than  one  of  the  passengers,  mad 
with  rage,  raised  his  revolver  and  fired,  aiming  at  the 
captain's  head. 

The  bullet  whistled  past  the  right  ear  of  the  daring 
Yankee ;  but  he  did  -not  even  flinch.  His  blood  was  up, 
and  he  cared  no  more  for  the  men  who  surrounded  him 
than  he  would  have  cared  for  a  party  of  mutinous  sailors, 
all  demanding  more  grub  and  less  work. 

"  You  miserable  cowards !  "  the  master  howled,  "do  you 
deal  in  murder,  you  sneaks  ?  Not  bold  enough  to  face  a 
Yankee  in  line  of  battle,  you  must  shoot  at  him  when  his 
back  is  turned,  and  when  he  has  no  weapon  in  his  hands. 


RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE.  155 

Wait  a  moment  until  I  can  send  for  a  pair  of  revolvers, 
and  then  see  how  quick  I  will  clear  you  out." 

The  master  of  the  Pet  had  called  to  the  steward  to 
bring  his  revolver  from  his  state-room,  and  then  shouted 
to  his  mate,  who  was  in  the  waist  waiting  for  a  call. 

"  Mr.  Cringle,  arm  the  crew  with  capstan-bars  and  hand- 
spikes, and  send  them  aft.  Be  lively  about  it.  We  will 
see  if  these  fellows  are  to  take  possession  of  the  ship." 

"  Cut  him  down  !  Shoot  him  !  "  were  the  cries  heard 
from  the  passengers. 

I  must  confess  that  I  expected  the  man  would  be  killed 
before  I  could  interfere  ;  and  this  I  intended  to  do  at  the 
proper  time,  although  I  knew  that  each  moment  of  delay 
was  of  vital  importance  if  I  desired  to  see  the  Pet  captured 
by  the  Union  gunboats. 

"  Put  up  your  weapons,"  I  said,  and  walked  into  the 
midst  of  the  crowd. 

Just  as  I  spoke,  the  air  was  stirred  by  a  loud  report,  and 
a  hundred-pound  Parrott  shell  burst  just  under  the  stern 
of  the  Pet,  and  threw  water  all  over  the  quarter-deck. 

At  the  same  moment,  the  crew,  firemen  and. all,  came 
tumbling  aft,  armed  with  pokers,  handspikes,  and  capstan- 
bars  ;  and  foremost  among  them  were  young  Harry  Bluff 
and  old  Ben  the  sailor. 

"  Down  with  'em  !  "  roared  old  Ben  the  grizzly,  and 
flourished  his  capstan-bar  as  though  he  was  handling  a 
cutlass. 

"  Drive  them  over  the  traffrail,  my  bully  boys  I  "  yelled 
Harry  Bluff.  "  Down  with  the  traitors,  and  up  with  the 


I  could  not  help  laughing  at  the  little  fellow's  actions, 
he  was  so  eager,  fearless,  and  excited ;  but  I  thought  his 
words  a  little  out  of  place  in  the  midst  of  so  many  oonfeds. 

"  Avast  there  with  yer  noise,"  growled  old  Ben  to 
Harry,  as  though  the  young  fellow  needed  a  check.  "  Don't 


156  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

you  take  the  word  out  of  us  able  seamen's  mouths.  We 
men  must  settle  this  muss." 

I  had  thrown  myself  between  the  captain  and  the 
passengers,  and  thus  far  had  kept  them  apart,  and  that  was 
all ;  but  at  the  instant  when  it  needed  only  a  word 
from  Pooduek  to  renew  hostilities,  and  cover  the  deck 
with  blood,  a  loud  report  startled  us,  and  then  a  shell  burst 
but  a  few  fathoms  from  the  starboard-beam  of  the  Pet. 

I  glanced  at  the  two  gunboats,  and  saw  that  they  nearly 
had  the  range  with  their  Parrott  guns.  We  were  running 
into  a  sack  from  which  we  could  not  extricate  ourselves. 

Pooduek  saw  his  danger  in  a  moment.  He  had  not 
calculated  on  the  speed  of  the  Union  gunboats.  They 
were  faster  than  he  had  anticipated  ;  and,  having  a  less 
distance  to  run  than  the  Pet,  were  likely  to  reach  the 
angle  quite  as  soon. 

"  You  fools  !"  shouted  the  master.  "Do  you  see  the 
jaws  of  the  lion,  and  the  teeth  ready  to  crush  you?  " 

The  Southerners  did  look,  and  saw,  without  the  aid  of 
glasses,  the  American  flag  at  the  peak  of  the  gunboats, 
fluttering  gayly  in  the  wind  as  though  aware  of  its  mission. 

Pistols  and  knives  were  concealed  in  a  hasty  manner, 
and  the  Southerners  shook  and  turned  pale  at  their  danger. 
All  thoughts  of  vengeance  had  disappeared  from  their 
minds,  and  now  they  only  desired  to  be  kept  from  the 
rude  grasp  of  the  Federal  authorities. 

"  Save  us  !  "  they  cried  in  chorus. 

"Into  the  cabin  with  you!"  roared  the  master  of  the 
Pet.  "  Leave  the  deck  to  me  and  my  men.  That's  all  I 
ax  of  you  jist  at  this  time.  Go  !  " 

The  terrified  representatives  of  the  South  slunk  into  the 
cabin  without  a  murmur.  The  Yankee  renegade  had 
triumphed  over  pride  and  passion. 

One  more  look  did  Pooduek  cast  at  the  gunboats.  The 
captains  of  the  latter  were  so  certain  of  their  prize,  they 


RUNNING   THE  BLOCKADE.  157 

now  forbore  firing  at  the  blockade  runner,  fearful  that  the 
shot  would  injure  her,  and  damage  some  of  her  cargo.  The 
shrewd  captains  had  an  eye  to  prize-money.  At  that  date 
the  New  York  prize  courts  had  not  learned  to  take  the 
oyster,  and  give  the  sailors  the  shells.  That  game  was 
successfully  played  until  beggars  rode  in  carriages,  and 
thieves  were  made  rich. 

The  master  of  the  Pet  placed  his  hand  on  the  knob 
of  the  bell  that  led  to  the  engine-room.  He  made  the 
signal  for  more  steam,  at  the  same  time  waving  his  hand 
to  the  man  at  the  wheel.  The  helm  was  put  hard  up, 
the  head  of  the  Pet  was  gracefully  turned  from  the  direc- 
tion in  which  she  had  been  steered,  and  then  steamed 
away  in  an  exactly  opposite  course,  so  that  the  Union 
gunboats  were  enabled  to  look  at  the  stern  of  the  be- 
leaguered steamer  instead  of  her  bow. 

"Away  aloft,  men,  and  loose  every  rag.  Be  lively,  lads ! 
It's  our  only  chance." 

The  men  sprang  into  the  rigging,  and  cast  off  gaskets 
and  overhauled  clew-lines  and  bunt-lines  in  a  manner  so 
truly  man-of-war-ish  that  the  Pet  was  covered  with 
canvas  in  a  short  time,  and  we  were  bowling  before  the 
wind  with  all  of  the  square-sails  filled  and  doing  good 
service. 

Then  Captain  Pooduck  gave  one  glance  at  the  Federal 
gunboats  before  he  strode  to  the  speaking-tube  that  com- 
municated with  the  engineers'  room. 

"  Crowd  on  all  the  steam  that  you  can  get !  "  he  shouted. 
"  Keep  down  the  safety-valve  by  fifty-sixes,  pile  rosin  and 
tar  in  the  furnaces,  and,  by  thunder  !  let  her  rip  !  " 

An  answer  was  returned  by  a  rush  of  black  smoke,  by 
the  hissing  of  steam  as  it  attempted  to  escape,  by  the 
increased  speed  of  the  Pet,  and  by  the  manner  in  which 
she  trembled  as  she  cut  through  the  water,  dividing  the 
waves  b'ke  a  sharp  knife.  The  gunboats  had  taken  the 


158  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

hint,  and  were  after  us  with  full  head  of  steam,  and  with 
canvas  spread  wherever  it  could  catch  a  breath  of  air. 

By  standing  on  the  course  we  had,  we  were  the 
means  of  compelling  the  gunboats  to  near  each  other, 
thinking  they  were  to  cut  us  off;  and  it  was  evident  that 
the  Federals  had  not  the  least  idea  that  the  Pet  would 
wear  round  and  show  her  stern,  when  she  was  almost 
under  the  guns  of  her  foes,  and  when  a  broadside  of  well- 
directed  shot  would  sink  us.  But  Pooduck  had  calculated 
on  the  desire  of  the  Federal  officers  for  prize-money,  and 
knew  that  they  would  not  injure  the  hull  of  his  steamer 
if  there  was  any  prospect  of  effecting  her  capture  in  any 
other  manner.  For  a  while  we  kept  on  our  course  with- 
out molestation,  each  craft  being  tested  to  the  utmost 
for  speed.  For  the  first  ten  minutes  there  did  not  seem  to 
be  any  difference  in  point  of  sailing ;  but  as  our  steam  in- 
creased, and  the  engines  got  warmed  up,  I  rather  feared 
that  we  were  leaving  the  gunboats,  although  I  did  not  say 
so.  But  Pooduck  soon  made  the  same  discovery,  and 
rubbed  his  hands  with  satisfaction  as  he  noted  the  result. 

"  Throw  the  log,"  the  master  said  to  the  mate,  who  was 
chewing  tobacco  at  such  a  rate  that  it  seemed  as  though  his 
jaws  were  trying  to  keep  pace  with  the  revolutions  of  the 
wheels. 

Mr.  Cringle  called  one  of  the  lads  to  hold  the  reel, 
while  the  master  held  the  second-glass.  The  log  showed 
that  we  were  making  fifteen  knots  -an  hour. 

The  gunboats  seemed  to  have  discovered  that  we  were 
moving  rather  fast,  for  one  of  them  pitched  a  shell  at  us  ; 
and  over  the  steamer  it  went,  and  struck  in  the  water, 
without  exploding,  some  forty  fathoms  ahead  of  us 

"  A  good  line-shot,"  muttered  Pooduck.  "  A  degree 
less  elevation,  and  we  should  have  been  plugged." 

Bang!  went  a  gun  from  the  other  steamer;  but  the 
shell  dropped  astern,  and  was  not  even  in  range. 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  Io9 

The  gunboats  were  about  two  miles  astern,  straining 
boilers  and  engines  to  overhaul  us  ;  but  it  seemed  as  though 
we  must  escape,  unless  some  fortunate  shot  disabled  our 
machinery  ;  for  I  did  not  believe  that  the  United  States 
owned  a  vessel  that  could  move  as  lively  as  the  Pet 
was  then  doing. 

I  had  just  whispered  as  much  to  Mrs.  Gowen,  when 
young  Harry  Bluff  came  to  the  break  of  the  quarter- 
deck, apparently  to  coil  up  a  rope  ;  and  while  he  was 
about  it,  the  lad  made  a  sign  that  he  desired  to  speak 
with  me. 

"  Mr.  Barn  well,"  he  said  in  a  whisper,  as  soon  as  I  had 
joined  him,  "  if  you  have  any  valuables,  you  had  better 
stow  them  away  about  your  person." 

"Why?" 

"  Because,  sir,  in  less  than  six  bells,  one  of  those  gun- 
boats will  be  slap  aboard  of  us." 

"  Nonsense  !  We  can  out-steam  them,  and  run  back  to 
Nassau.  The  Pet  is  too  lively  for  Uncle  Sam's  crafts." 

"  Don't  you  believe  it,  sir,"  persisted  Harry.  "•  The 
craft  that  is  astern  of  us  can  sail  as  fast  as  we  can.  It  is 
the  Stingeree,  sir ;  and  when  they  fire  up  under  all  her 
boilers,  she  will  come  up  to  us  hand  over  hand.  You  will 
see,  sir,  shortly." 

"  How  do  you  know  this,  Harry  ?  " 

The  boy  blushed  and  stammered  for  a  moment,  as  though 
he  haa  nut  thought  that  such  a  question  might  be  put  to 
him  ;  but  at  last  he  managed  to  explain. 

"  I  have  seen  something  of  blockade  running,  sir,  during 
the  past  six  months,"  he  said ;  "  and  I  know  most  of  the 
Federal  ships.  I  am  familiar  with  all  the  slow  tubs  and 
the  clipper  steamers.  Take  my  advice,  and  stow  away  all 
your  private  and  valuable  swag  before  Uncle  Sam  can  clap 
bis  paws  on  it." 

"  Thank  you,  Harry,  for  the  hint,"  I  remarked,  with  a 


160  RUNNING   THE  BLOCKADE. 

laugh.  "  But  you  know  my  condition  when  I  came  on 
board,  and  consequently  can  imagine  that  I  am  not  possessed 
of  many  private  effects." 

.    "  But  I  didn't  know  but  you  might  have  some  papers," 
linted  the  young  fellow. 

"  Not  a  line." 

Harry  was  about  to  go  forward,  when  I  laid  a  hand  on 
his  shoulder,  and  detained  him. 

"  Look  you,  my  lad,  you  mean  well,   I've  no  doubt, 
but  you  must  be  cautious  how  you  warn  people  on  this 
steamer.     What  are  you,  and  who  are  you  ?  " 
"  He  smiled,  as  he  answered,  — 

"  One  who  has  seen  better  days,  sir." 

"  Poor  boy  !  "  I  answered  ;  "  I  have  no  doubt  of  it." 

I  was  just  about  leaving  him  to  rejoin  Mrs.  Gowen,  when 
old  Ben,  the  red-nosed,  called  the  lad,  and  in  harsh  tones 
scolded  him  for  lingering  near  the  quarter-deck,  where  he 
did  not  belong  and  had  no  business. 

"  What  did  the  young  fellow  want  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Gowen. 

I  told  her,  in  confidence,  what  Harry  had  said  to  me. 

"  Do  you  believe  it  ?" 

"  The  lad  was  positive." 

"  Then  I  had  better  make  preparations.  We  have  ten 
thousand  dollars  in  gold  in  our  state-room.  The  Yankees 
shan't  have  that.  I'll  toss  it  overboard  first." 

"  Better  stow  it  about  your  persons.  The  Federals  won't 
interfere  with  private  property." 

"  You  don't  know  them  as  well  as  I  do.  But  I  will  take 
your  advice.  Come  to  our  state-room,  and  assist  us  in  con- 
cealing the  treasure." 

She  led  the  way  to  the  cabin  ;  but,  just  as  I  was  leaving 
the  quarter-deck,  I  saw  the  lead  box  which  the  confederate 
despatch-bearer  had  placed  on  one  of  the  hen-coops,  so 
that  it  would  be  handy  to  throw  overboard  in  case  the 
steamer  was  captured.  It  was  not  larger  than  my  two 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  10] 

fists;  but,  small  as  it  was,  looked  desirable,  and  I  thought 
would  form  valuable  additions  to  the  literature  of  the  Navy 
Department. 

I  glanced  over  the  deck  to  see  if  any  one  was  regarding 
my  motions.  The  master  was  watching  the  movements  of 
the  two  strangers  in  chase,  while  the  crew  were  discussing 
what  they  should  do  if  captured.  No  one  seemed  to  care 
for  me.  It  was  but  the  work  of  a  moment.  I  seized  the 
lead  box.  opened  the  door  of  the  hen-coop,  threw  the  val- 
uable prize  in  among  the  chickens,  closed  the  door,  and 
rejoined  Mrs.  Go  wen. 

The  cabin  passengers  were  in  a  terrible  state  of  alarm  at 
the  prospect  of  capture.  Mr.  Gowen  said  that  he  knew 
the  Federals  had  no  mercy,  and  that  he  was  a  marked  man  ; 
while  the  despatch-bearer  felt  of  his  throat  as  though  dread- 
ing the  touch  of  a  hangman.  Such  a  number  of  pallid 
faces  I  had  never  seen  before  on  the  water. 

"  Mrs.  Gowen  informs  me,"  the  husband  remarked,  as  I 
entered  the  state-room,  and  closed  the  door,  "  that  you 
will  assist  us  in  securing  what  little  gold  we  have.  You 
have  already  rendered  us  so  much  service  that  I  fear  to 
trespass  on  your  kindness." 

The  gold  was  removed  from  a  trunk,  and  stowed  about 
our  persons  ;  and,  after  we  had  accomplished  that  part  of 
our  business,  I  went  on  deck,  and  took  another  glance  at 
the  pursuing  gunboats. 

I  could  no  longer  doubt  that  the  Pet  had  found  her 
match  in  sailing  and  steaming.  All  three  gunboats  were  in 
pursuit ;  and,  in  spite  of  our  most  desperate  efforts,  we 
could  not  throw  them  off,  as  anticipated.  They  held  their 
own,  and  even  gained  on  us,  —  the  Stingeree  leading  her 
consorts  in  the  race. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  breeze  which  had  blown  quite 
strong  gradually  died  away.  This  was  favorable  for 
the  Pet ;  as  she  did  not  spread  as  much  canvas  as  the 


162  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

gunboats,  and  the  latter  had  spread  every  rag,  and  even 
wet  the  sails  to  catch  every  breath ;  but,  now  that  the 
wind  had  died  away,  we  noticed  that  we  held  our  own, 
and  I  feared  would  escape. 

Pooduck  began  to  rub  his  hands  when  he  found  there 
was  still  a  chance  for  him. 

"  If  I  can  only  edge  away  from  'em  till  I  get  in  sight 
of  neutral  shore,"  the  master  said.  "  A  few  more  hours, 
and  we'll  be  in  English  waters  ;  and  then  we'll  dare  the 
Yankees  to  take  us." 

As  though  the  commander  of  the  Stingeree  had  heard 
the  words,  and  was  ready  to  show  that  he  knew  a  trick 
worth  half  a  dozen  such  as  Pooduck  had  planned,  he  gave 
us  a  shot  that  fell  a  few  fathoms  off  our  starboard-beam, 
and  even  threw  several  buckets  of  water  on  our  deck. 

"  Barnwell,"  the  master  said,  "  them  'ere  fellers  is  in 
earnest." 

"  I  should  think  so,"  I  replied. 

I  saw  the  smoke  of  a  gun  from  the  Stingeree,  and 
then  a  dull,  heavy  report,  and  directly  over  our  heads  was 
a  whizzing  sound,  and  then  a  sharp  crack,  and  on  our 
deck  were  scattered  two  or  three  pieces  of  shell,  tearing  up 
the  wood-work,  and  creating  much  consternation. 

Mrs.  Gowen  was  the  first  one  to  leave  the  cabin  after 
the  shell  had  burst  over  us. 

"  Are  you  hurt  ?  "  she  demanded  in  a  tone  of  alarm. 

"No." 

';  Then  come  out  of  danger.  Do  not  remain  on  deck. 
My  husband  wants  you  to  do  so." 

Even  before  she  had  finished  her  remarks,  the  confederate 
despatch-bearer  rushed  on  deck,  looking  terribly  excited.' 

"  Give  up  the  ship  !  "  he  yelled.  "  I  order  you  to  sur- 
render. You  will  sink  us,  and  every  person  will  lose  his 
life.  I  shall  lose  mine,  and  it's  worth  a  dozen  vessels  like 
this.  Wheie  are  my  despatches  ?  Stop  the  engine." 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

Pooduck  turned  cm  the  man,  seized  him  by  the  shoul- 
ders, and  with  a  vigorous  kick  sent  him  flying  off  the 
quarter-deck,  lie  struck  on  his  hands  and  feet,  crawled 
to  the  cabin-door,  and  disappeared,  too  much  frightened  to 
utter  one  word  about  despatches  or  his  lead  box.  Some 
of  the  crew  laughed  at  the  display  which  the  fellow 
made  ;  but  before  they  had  time  to  laugh  long,  another 
shell  burst  over  our  heads,  sending  every  one  to  cover, 
tearing  through  the  deck,  chipping  a  piece  of  wood  out 
of  the  foremast,  cutting  some  of  the  ropes,  and  caus- 
ing the  men  to  lose  all  heart  and  hope  of  escape  ;  for  as 
soon  as  the  pieces  of  shell  had  performed  their  allotted 
parts,  the  crew,  headed  by  old  Ben,  came  surging  aft  to 
remonstrate  with  the  master  against  any  further  re- 
sistance. 

"  Cap'n  Pooduck,"  said  old  Ben,  who  appeared  to  be 
the  spokesman  of  the  crew,  "  we  don't  think  it's  any  use 
to  hold  out  any  longer.  If  we  does,  we  shall  go  to  the 
deuce, or  Davy  Jones's  locker,  in  less  time  than  it  takes  to 
stow  a  stay-sail  in  a  net." 

The  master  of  the  Pet  looked  at  the  crew  for  one  mo- 
ment, and  then  he  put  his  hand  in  his  breast,  and  produced 
a  revolver,  which  he  deliberately  cocked,  and  pointed  at 
the  sailors. 

"  M^n,"  he  said,  "  as  long  as  I  have  life,  I'll  command 
the  Pe*u,  and  surrender  when  I  please,  and  do  as  I  please. 
Go  forward,  and  attend  to  your  duty,  and  I'll  attend  to 
mine.  Move ! " 

The  crew  hesitated,  and  some  of  them  shrank  back,  as 
though  fearing  to  face  a  revolver  ;  but,  as  I  glanced  over 
the  line  of  sailors,  I  saw  that  old  Ben  and  Harry  Bluff 
maintained  their  positions,  and  did  not  quail  at  the  sight 
of  the  weapon.  They  acted  as  though  they  had  seen  such 
things  before. 

During  that  moment  of  hesitation,  the  Stingeree  once 


164  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

more  ventured  on  a  shot  from  her  midship-gun.  The 
shell  burst  just  over  the  stern  of  the  Pet,  and  one  of  the 
pieces  passed  over  the  quarter-deck,  striking  Pooduck  in 
the  back,  and  then,  glancing  and  cutting  one  of  the 
shrouds  of  the  main  rigging,  dropped  into  the  water  with- 
out further  damage.  As  Pooduck  fell,  he  managed  to 
gasp  out,  — 

"  Pile  on  more  steam.     Don't  give  up." 

Two  of  the  mates  ran  to  pick  the  master  up.  Already 
were  the  planks  stained  with  his  blood ;  and,  as  the  offi- 
cers of  the  steamer  raised  him,  I  saw  a  gaping  wound  just 
below  the  shoulder-blade,  where  the  piece  of  shell  had 
torn  out  flesh  and  muscle,  pieces  of  bone  and  strong  sinews. 
The  poor  fellow  did  not  again  speak,  although  he  made 
one  or  two  attempts  to  do  so,  as  though  even  in  the 
agonies  of  death  he  had  some  thought  to  save  the  steamer. 

At  that  instant  there  was  a  sudden  jar  of  the  machinery 
of  the  Pet,  a  crash  as  though  some  of  the  iron  work  had 
gone  through  the  bottom,  and  then  the  paddle-wheels 
ceased  their  motion,  and  the  steamer  was  at  the  mercy  of 
the  gunboats. 

"  What  is  the  matter  ?  "  I  asked. 

u  Some  traitor  has  played  a  trick  with  the  machinery," 
one  of  the  Southerners  replied.  "  An  iron  bolt  has  been 
thrown  among  the  works,  and  the  result  is  a  smash." 

"  Do  the  engineers  know  who  did  it  ?  " 

"  No  ;  and  we  have  no  time  to  investigate.  See,  the 
'•  Earned  Yankee  is  within  half  a  mile  of  us.  Escape  now  is 
impossible." 

"  Mr.  Barnwell,"  said  Cringle  the  mate,  with  a  peculiar 
hitch  of  his  trousers,  "  I'll  surrender  the  command  up  to 
you,  if  you'll  take  charge." 

"  No,  I  thank  you,"  I  replied.  "  I  have  no  desire  for  a 
trip  North." 

The  mate  looked  glum  enough  ;  but,  not  satisfied  with 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  165 

my  refusal,  he  attempted  to  induce  one  or  two  others  to 
assume  the  command,  but  none  of  them  would  listen  to 
the  suggestion ;  and  by  the  time  poor  Cringle  had  made 
up  his  mind  that  he  would  have  to  take  the  responsibility, 
the  Stingeree,  Captain  Switchell,  was  close  off  our  star- 
board-quarter, and  the  gallant  Switchell  himself  standing 
on  the  hammock  nettings,  trumpet  in  hand,  hailing  us. 

"  What  is  the  name  of  that  steamer  ?  "  the  captain 
asked  in  a  stern  tone. 

"  She  hain't  got  any  name,"  answered  Cringle,  and, 
as  he  spoke,  he  dropped  a  box  overboard,  which  sank  im- 
mediately. 

The  action  did  not  escape  the  sharp  eyes  of  Captain 
Switchell. 

"  I  suppose  you  have  just  thrown  all  your  papers  over- 
board. But  that  will  not  avail  you.  I  know  you,  and  all 
about  you ;  and  I  can  tell  just  how  many  boxes  of  rifles, 
how  many  bales  of  cloth,  how  many  casks  of  liquor,  and 
how  much  powder  you  have  on  board.  But  where  is  the 
master  of  the  Pet  ?  Where  is  Pooduck  ?  " 

"  He  is  dead,  sir.  One  of  your  shells  tore  his  back  all 
to  pieces." 

"  Indeed  ?  "  with  an  air  of  the  most  supreme  indiffer- 
ence. "  I  thought  he  would  live  long  enough  to  be  hanged 
as  a  pirate." 

The  captain  waved  his  trumpet,  and  then  the  first- 
cutter  was  piped  away,  and  pulled  towards  us,  with  three 
armed  officers  in  the  stern-sheets,  and  eight  seamen,  with 
cutlasses  and  navy  revolvers  in  their  belts. 

The  boat  came  alongside,  and  the  officers  touched  their 
caps  as  they  reached  the  deck,  and  bowed  low  when  their 
eyes  fell  upon  Mrs.  Gowen,  who  was  leaning  on  my  arm, 
her  curiosity  overcoming  her  repugnance  at  the  sight  of 
Yankees.  The  officers  were  astonished  and  delighted  at 
a  vision  of  so  much  female  loveliness  j  but  their  polite- 


166  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

ness  and  low  bows  did  not  soften  the  heart  of  the  Geor- 
gia beauty,  and  not  even  a  gracious  nod  of  her  t  tately 
head  welcomed  the  enemies  of  the  so-called  Southern  Con- 
federacy. 

"  One  thing,"  I  whispered  to  the  lady.  "  Do  not  lisp 
that  I  belong  to  the  confederate  navy.  If  you  do,  I  shall 
be  held  as  a  prisoner  of  war." 

She  pressed  my  hand  to  show  that  she  understood ;  and 
then  her  dark,  expressive  eyes  followed  the  movements 
of  the  Yankee  officers  with  some  curiosity,  mixed  with  a 
little  share  of  disdain,  that  added  much  to  her  peculiar 
style  of  beauty. 

"  Gentlemen,-"  said  one  of  the  officers,  a  smart-looking 
young  fellow,  —  a  lieutenant,  so  his  shoulder-straps  denot- 
ed,—  "  I  am  happy  to  inform  you  that  your  vessel  is  a 
prize  to  the  United  States  steamer  Stingeree,  Captain 
Switchell." 

"  But  are  we  prisoners  ?  "  demanded  some  of  the  most 
rabid  passengers. 

"  For  the  present  you  are.  If  any  of  you  belong  to 
the  confederate  army  or  navy,  you  will  be  likely  to  go 
North  ;  but  if  you  are  all  civilians,  I  have  no  doubt  but 
Captain  Switchell  will  land  you  on  some  of  the  keys, 
so  that  you  can  get  home  before  the  war  closes.  Lieu- 
tenant Barnwell,  of  the  confederate  navy,  you  will  please 
report  on  board  the  Stingeree  to  Captain  Switchell." 

"  Who  gives  me  that  rank  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  I  do,"  answered  one  of  the  passengers,  —  a  mean 
little  fellow  from  North  Carolina.  "  You  are  known  on 
board  as  a  confederate  naval  officer  ;  and  there  is  no  use 
denying  that  you  are  on  your  way  to  Richmond  to  take 
charge  of  a  ship." 

"  That  will  do,"  responded  the  lieutenant.  "  I  see  that 
Mr.  Barnwell  and  I  understand  each  other.  Now  for 
the  information  you  can  pocket  a  hundred  dollars  in  gold. 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  167 

Here  men,  push  off,  and  bring  back  what  help  I  want  as 
quickly  as  possible,  or  we  shall  have  the  crews,  of  the 
Bouncer  and  the  Bally  whack  on  board ;  and  if  once  they 
step  foot  on  deck,  it  is  precious  little  prize-money  we  shall 
make." 

Captain  Switchell,  of  the  Stingeree,  was  walking  his 
quarter-deck,  and  mentally  cursing  the  two  gunboats 
which  were  steaming  towards  him.  He  received  me  on 
board  with  a  scowl  and  the  following  salute  :  — 

"  Who  are  you,  sir  ?  A  rabid  rebel,  I  know.  Don't 
answer  me,  sir  ;  I  can  see  it  in  your  looks.  Now,  sir, 
what  were  you  sent  on  board  for?  No  evasion,  sir." 

I  was  about  to  make  a  reply,  but  just  at  that  moment 
the  lieutenant  on  board  the  Pet  hailed  us. 

"  Captain  Switchell,  that  gentleman,  I  am  told,  is  a 
confederate  lieutenant ;  and  he  was  on  his  way  to  Rich- 
mond. One  of  the  passengers  gave  me  the  information." 

"  Ah ! "  growled  the  captain,  in  a  tone  like  that  of  a 
huge  sea-lion,  "  I  suspected  it  all  along." 

The  captain  glared  at  me  as  though  he  was  debating 
what  punishment  he  should  inflict.  But  I  looked  him  full 
in  the  eye,  and  raising  one  of  my  hands,  made  a  certain 
sign. 

"  Eh  ?  what  ?  "  demanded  the  captain  ;  and  he  rubbed 
his  little  gray  eyes  in  astonishment  and  bewilderment. 

I  still  looked  at  him,  and  waited  for  an  answering  sig- 
nal. At  last  it  came,  but  in  such  a  manner  that  it  proved 
to  me  the  captain  was  almost  inclined  to  believe  I  had  made 
a  mistake,  and  blundered  on  one  of  the  secret-service 
signals. 

I  gave  the  second  signal  promptly,  and  then  the  cap- 
tain's face  was  a  study. 

"  Blast  it  I  who  are  you  ?  "  he  asked,  in  a  whisper. 
As  he  spoke,  he  came  a  step  or  two  nearer,  scanning  me 
closely. 


168  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  Perhaps  we  had  better  retire  to  your  cabin,"  1  re- 
marked, "  and  have  a  little  conversation  in  private." 

"  Yes,  we  will." 

"  But,"  I  continued,  "  you  must  recollect  that  I  am  a 
rebel." 

"  Why,  didn't  you  just  give  me  two  of  the  secret  signs  ? 
•This  beats  all  my  wife's  relations.  Blast  me  if  I  know 
what  you  mean  !  " 

"  Understand  me,  Captain  Switchell/'  I  said.  "  To 
you  I  am  a  Union  man,  and  an  officer  of  the  United  States 
Navy  ;  but  to  all  others,  I  am  a  rebel." 

"  Ah  !  I  understand  you  now,  my  heart}',"  he  said,  his 
countenance  clearing  up.  u  You  have  more  work  on 
hand?" 

"  Yes  ;  and  you  must  help  me  do  it.'' 

"  Of  course.  I  will  put  myself  out  to  give  you  a  lift- 
ing hand." 

The  captain  led  the  way  to  his  cabin,  and  the  first  thing 
my  eyes  rested  upon,  after  entering,  was  the  lead  despatch- 
box  which  I  had  secreted  in  the  hen-coop,  and  missed  when 
I  went  to  look  for  it. 

"  Halloo  !  "  I  said,  "  here  is  something  that  has  turned 
up  most  unexpectedly.  I  thought  to  place  this  in  your 
hands." 

"  Well,  it's  all  right,  I  suppose  ;  but  you  see  some  one 
got  to  the  wind'ard  of  you,"  chuckled  the  captain. 

Seeing  that  I  still  looked  mystified,  the  captain  touched 
a  bell,  and  the  steward  made  his  appearance. 

"Request  Mr.  Swivel  and  Mr.  Reefpointto  come  here," 
the  captain  said. 

In  a  few  minutes  two  officers  in  uniform  entered  the 
cabin,  and  I  had  no  difficulty  in  recognizing  both  faces. 
One  belonged  to  the  frank,  good-looking  Harry  Bluff, 
and  the  other  represented  the  weather-beaten  features  of 
old  Ben,  red  nose  and  all. 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  169 

"  This  is  Mr.  Swivel,  the  master's-mate  of  the  Stin- 
geree,"  the  captain  said,  nodding  to  the  one  1  had  known 
as  Ben.  "  And  this  young  gentleman  is  one  of  my  mid- 
shipmen—  Mr.  Reefpoint;  although  for  the  past  few 
weeks  he  has  been  known  as  Harry  Bluff  —  an  English 
lad,  a  hater  of  the  Yankees,  and  all  that." 

I  must  confess  that  I  was  taken  all  aback,  as  the  sailors 
say,  at  the  introduction.  I  had  suspected  that  Harry 
Bluff  was  not  so  rabid  a  confederate  as  he  wished  people 
to  think  ;  but  that  he  was  a  United  States  officer  had 
never  entered  my  mind  ;  and  now,  when  he  stood  before 
me  in  uniform,  with  his  laughing  eyes  and  smiling  face. 
I  could  readily  understand  how  it  happened  that  he  talked 
grammatically  at  one  time,  and  forecastle  lingo  the  next. 

"You  are  a  little  surprised  ?  "  asked  Captain  Switchell. 

"  Yes  ;  I  confess  it." 

"  Perhaps  the  gentleman  was  more  surprised  when  he 
seed  the  rockets  go  up  last  night,"  said  the  master's-mate, 
with  a  grin  that  lighted  up  his  mahogany  face  for  a  mo- 
ment, and  even  made  it  look  interesting. 

"  Captain  Switchell,"  I  cried,  "  I  wish  to  thank  this 
young  gentleman  for  his  kindness  "  (and  I  laid  my  hand 
on  the  midshipman's  shoulder)  "  to  me  when  I  was  taken 
on  board  the  Pet  in  an  insensible  condition.  I  really 
wish  you  would  recommend  him  for  promotion." 

"  Well,  I  will ;  but  I  have  some  thoughts  of  sending 
him  off  on  another  trip.  How  would  you  like  it,  Mr. 
Reefpoint?" 

"  If  you  think  I  had  better  go,  sir,  I  am  ready,"  was 
.the  modest  answer. 

".Well,  I'll  think  of  the  matter.  Keep  out  of  sight 
for  j,he  .present,  and  put  on  your  sailor  togs.  Don't  let 
the  people  on  the  Pet  suspect  who  you  are." 

"  But  have  you  no  fear  that  this  gentleman  will  know 

too  much  ?  "  —  and  the  young  rogue  pointed  to  me. 
12 


170  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  O,  no.     He  won't  blab." 

"  The  Bouncer  and  the  Ballywhack  are  nearly  along- 
side, sir,"  reported  the  officer  of  the  deck. 

"  I'll  be  up  in  a  minute.  Now,  Mr.  Constant,  what  have 
you  to  say  about  your  future  operations?  " 

We  were  alone  in  the  cabin,  for  the  master's-mate  and 
the  midshipman  had  gone  on  deck. 

"  Simply  that  you  must  land  me,  and  two  or  three 
whom  I  shall  designate,  at  Nassau,  while  the  rest  of  the 
people  on  board  the  Pet  had  better  make  a  journey  North, 
and  await  the  pleasure  of  the  government." 

"  Well,  just  designate  whom  you  want  for  company, 
and  I'll  set  you  on  shore  in  the  course  of  the  week." 

"  Thank  you  ;  but  you  must  be  persuaded  to  adopt  this 
course  by  the  entreaties  of  a  very  handsome  woman." 

"  Humph  !  I  don't  understand  you." 

"  The  lady  thinks  that  I  am  a  rebel.  If  she  supposed 
that  I  was  a  Yankee,  I  should  be  treated  like  a  dog.  By 
her  aid  I  can  learn  all  that  is  worth  learning  in  Nassau,  or 
at  any  Southern  port  which  I  may  stop.  I  shall  tell 
her  that  I  am  a  prisoner,  and  must  go  North.  She  will 
entreat  of  you  to  let  me  remain  with  herself  and  husband. 
After  a  little  hesitation,  you  can  consent." 

"  A  married  woman,  is  she  ?  " 

•;  Yes,  sir,  —  a  handsome  one." 

"  Bah !  you  talk  about  beauty.  You  never  saw  my 
wife  and  daughter.  Well,  I'll  consent." 

We  went  on  deck,  and  found  that  the  two  gunboats 
were  ranged  alongside  ;  and  after  mutual  congratulations, 
Captain  Harnesscask  —  a  stout,  fat,  tub-looking  sailor  — 
asked. 

"  I  say,  Captain  Switchell,  what  will  you  do  with 
her?" 

Captain  Switchell  was  the  senior  captain,  so  had  control 
of  the  prize. 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  171 

"  Send  her  to  New  York,  I  think,"  was  the  answer. 

"  Send  her  nothing,"  was  the  blunt  answer.  "  I  sent  a 
schooner  in  there,  loaded  with  molasses  and  sugar,  sir,  — 
think  of  that,  sir,  —  and,  by  Jove,  sir,  if  the  sharks  didn't 
sell  all,  and  brought  me  in  debt  to  their  infernal  courts, 
sir." 

"  Well,  I  think  that  we  shall  have  to  send  her  to  Boston," 
responded  Captain  Switchell. 

"  Boston  and  Philadelphia  give  a  man  a  chance  for  his 
life.  They  don't  take  the  oyster,  and  give  you  the  shell ; 
but  even  in  Boston  they  hanker  like  the  deuce  for  poor 
Jack's  prize-money.  But,  halloo,  Captain  Switcheil,  you 
are  to  have  a  visitor,  and  a  petticoat  at  that !  " 

The  captain  waved  his  trumpet,  and  we  saw  one  of  the 
cutters  of  the  Stingeree  leaving  the  Pet,  with  Mrs.  Gowen 
in  the  stern-sheets. 

"  My  eyes,  but  she's  a  beauty !  "  muttered  the  captain, 
who  was  looking  at  her  through  his  glass.  "  Almost  as 
handsome  as  my  wife  and  daughter.  Pipe  the  side,  Mr. 
Compass.  We'll  receive  so  handsome  a  woman  with  all 
the  honors.  It  may  soften  her  rebel  heart  to  see  that  she 
is  appreciated." 

The  side  was  piped,  and  up  the  steps  came  Mrs.  Gowen, 
radiant  in  colors  and  beauty,  causing  the  most  profound 
admiration  among  the  crew. 


172  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

MRS.  GOWEN  AND  THE  CAPTAIN.  —  A  SPECIAL  PLEA.  — 
A  RELEASE.  —  HARRY  BLUFF  AND  I  JOIN  FORCES.  — 
A  ROW  AT  NASSAU.  —  "  UP,  STINQEREES,  AND  AT  'EM." 
—  A  RECONCILIATION.  —  I  AM  WELCOMED  BY  COLONEL 
RHETT.  —  A  LITTLE  QUESTIONING.  —  A  CHANGE  OP 
SCENE. 

SEVERAL  of  the  officers  stepped  forward  to  assist  her  ; 
but  the  haughty  woman  waved  them  off,  as  though  fearing 
they  would  soil  her  garments  if  they  approached  too  near. 

"  I  wish  to  speak  with  the  captain  of  this  steamer,"  the 
lady  said,  in  an  impatient  manner,  as  though  she  were 
addressing  some  of  the  slaves  of  her  father's  plantation. 

With  a  firm  step  she  walked  towards  the  quarter-deck, 
and  said,  — 

"  Captain,  I  wish  to  speak  with  you  for  a  moment." 

The  rough  old  sailor's  cap  was  raised  in  an  instant,  and 
he  answered,  gallantly,  — 

'"  I  am  proud  to  give  some  of  my  time  and  attention  to 
BO  handsome  a  lady,  antl  hope  that  I  shall  be  able  to  grant 
her  any  favor." 

Mrs.  Gowen  smiled,  but  it  was  a  smile  of  disdain. 

"  I  suppose  that  I  must  consider  myself  a  prisoner, 
captain  ?  " 

"  Why,  yes  ;  I  am  afraid  that  you  will  be  called  such." 

"  Sir,  I  am  a  poor  weak  woman,  and  my  husband  is 
ill.  To  be  sent  North  would  kill  him.  Will  you  land  us 
at  Nassau?  We  are  not  dangerous  people.  We  have 
done  notlung  to  provoke  your  folks.  We  are  plain  citi- 
zens, almost  neutrals." 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  173 

"To  be  sure  I  will.  I  cannot  surely  wage  war  against 
a  man  who  is  sick,  and  a  woman  who  is  so  amiable  and 
lovely." 

Mrs.  Gowen  bowed  her  thanks. 

"  But  1  have  one  more  favor  to  ask,"  she  continued. 

"  Another  one  ?" 

"Yes,  captain." 

"  Well,  broach  it,  and  we  will  see  what  it  appears  like."' 

"Mr.  Barnwell  is  a  dear  friend  of  my  husband's.  He 
saved  the  poor  man's  life.  Without  each  other,  they  are 
miserable." 

"  WhewJ  is  that  so?" 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  I  assure  you  that  it  is." 

She  began  to  appear  a  little  nervous  and  anxious  for  the 
first  time  during  the  interview  with  the  bluff  old  sailor. 

"  But,  madam,  I  am  informed  that  Mr.  Barnwell  is  a 
confederate  naval  officer,  and  that  he  is  on  his  way  to 
take  charge  of  a  queer  kind  of  craft  your  folks  are  building 
at  Wilmington,  North  Carolina.  I  don't  state  this  as  a  fact, 
madam  ;  but  it  has  been  hinted  to  me  by  more  than  one." 

"  O,  sir,  you  are  mistaken,  I  assure  you.  Mr.  Barnwell 
is  a  civilian,  and  has  no  idea  of  taking  part  in  this  war." 

"  Well  done,"  I  thought.  "  Even  a  lady  can  tell  a  lie 
when  she  is  disposed  to." 

"  Will  Mr.  Barnwell  reel  off  such  a  yarn  to  me  ?  "  de- 
manded the  captain,  with  what  was  meant  to  be  under- 
stood as  a  very  suspicious  glance. 

The  lady  did  not  reply ;  but  she  turned  to  me,  and,  lay- 
ing her  hand  upon  my  arm,  whispered  hurriedly,  — 

"  I  have  told  a  falsehood  on  your  account,  Mr.  Barnwell. 
Now  tell  one  for  yourself,  and  be  saved." 

I  looked  at  her  flushed  face,  and  saw  what  a  terrible 
struggle  she  had  had  with  her  better  feelings  before  she 
were  able  to  utter  the  wo:  ,1s  .she  did. 

"  Remember,  for  your  sake  and  the  sake  of  my  husband, 
you  must  go  with  us." 


174  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 

"  Well,"  cried  the  captain,  in  a  pretended  tone  of 
severity,  "  what  does  the  gentleman  say  about  it  ?  " 

"  He  says  the  same  as  myself,"  cried  the  lady,  in  a  hasty 
manner. 

Captain  Switchell  seemed  to  enjoy  the  pantomime,  and 
would  have  continued  it  had  I  not  motioned  to  him  that 
matters  had  gone  far  enough. 

•  "  O,  well,"  he  said,  "  I  am  willing  to  take  your  words. 
I  will  land  such  dear  friends  at^Nassau.  In  a  short  time  we 
shall  be  under  way  for  that  port ;  so  both  of  you  had 
better  return  on  board  the  Pet,  and  pack  up  your  traps, 
and  bring  them  here.  One  of  the  cutters  is  at  your 
disposal." 

Then  the  lieutenant  in  charge  of  the  Pet  received  his 
instructions,  and  was  ordered  to  Boston,  with  intimations 
that  he  must  keep  an  eye  on  all  his  prisoners,  and  pre- 
vent them  from  being  mutinous,  and  iron  them  if  they 
were  uneasy.  Twenty  men  were  sent  on  board,  while 
most  of  the  crew  of  the  Pet  were  transferred  to  our  deck, 
and  four  of  them  joined  the  Stingeree  in  less  than  ten 
hours  after  they  were  under  the  shelter  of  the  old  flag. 
With  a  full  head  of  steam,  the  Pet  started  for  the  North, 
while  the  three  gunboats  separated.  The  Stingeree  steered 
direct  for  Nassau,  with  as  jolly  a  crew  as  ever  assembled 
on  the  deck  of  a  man-of-war. 

Mrs.  Gowen  and  her  husband  were  provided  with  a 
state-room  in  the  captain's  cabin  ;  I  was  turned  over  to 
the  ward-room ;  while  John,  the  mulatto,  was  made  to 
fraternize  with  the  captain's  servant,  —  a  smart  black 
fellow,  on  whom  John  looked  with  perfect  contempt, 
considering  him  one  of  the  free  trash  that  he  had  heard 
so  much  about. 

When  we  entered  the  harbor  of  -Nassau,  and  dropped 
anchor,  almost  as  soon  as  it  touched  bottom  a  notice  was 
sent  oil  board  warning  the  Stingeree  to  leave  the  place 


RUNNING    THE    BLOCKADE.  175 

in  the  course  of  twenty-four  hours,  because  it  was  wrong 
to  shelter-  a  belligerent  in  a  neutral's  port  longer  than"  that 
time  ;  yet  within  half  a  cable's  length  of  the  gunboat  were 
lying  three  blockade  runners,  draped  with  confederate  flags 
and  British  ensigns.  All  this  increased  the  ill  feeling 
which  our  men  entertained  for  the  pirates  of  the  place  ;  but 
the  officers  of  the  gunboat  were  not  allowed  to  exhibit  the 
least  temper,  or  to  appear  to  notice  the  many  insults  they 
received. 

"The  time  will  come,"  whispered  Captain  Switchell, 
"  when  we  can  repay  these  barbarians  for  all  their  feel- 
ing and  partiality.  Some  day  the  United  States  will  send 
a  fleet  of  ships  down  here,  and  shovel  the  blasted  sand- 
hills into  the  sea  ;  and  that  will  be  the  end  of  the  place. 
But  patience,  old  fellow.  Keep  cool.  Help  me  capture 
one  of  those  saucy  fellows  lying  so  near  us,  and  we'll 
laugh  at  Nassau  neutrality." 

"  I'll  do  what  I  can  to  aid  you,"  I  remarked.  "  Keep 
outside,  near  Hog  Island,  and  I  will  manage  to  communi- 
cate with  you  in  a  day  or  two.  But  you  must  let  me  have 
Mr.  Reefpoint,  or  rather  Harry  Bluff,  for  he  must  be  known 
by  that  name.  I  need  his  help." 

"  You  shall  have  him.  I'll  send  him  on  shore  to-night, 
and  tell  him  to  desert.  You  can  pick  him  up  on  the  beach, 
or  pretend  to.  Keep  the  lad  a  little  in  hand,  and  he'll  play 
his  part.  well.  I  have  no  more  advice  that  I  know  of. 
Pipe  away  the  first  cutter,  Mr.  Compass,  and  see  that  Mrs. 
Gowen's  dunnage  is  stowed  away  in  the  boat." 

I  shook  hands  with  all  the  officers,  and  was  rowed  on 
shore  In  company  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gowen  ;  but  it  was 
not  until  we  landed  that  the  lady  appeared  to  breathe  as 
though  she  was  free. 

"  O  !  'ere's  a  lot  o'  Yanks  a-comin'  on  shore,"  cried  a 
number  of  beach-combers  and  loafers.  "  Let's  pitch  'em 
in  the  drink.  They  is  tyrants,  and  is  fightin'  agin'  the 
freedom  of  the  South." 


176  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 

Just  at  that  instant  one  of  the  cutters  from  the  Stin- 
gcree,  containing  some  ten  smart  sailors,  with  two  officers 
in  the  stern-sheets,  touched  the  beach.  The  loafers  s'aw 
the  landing,  and  leaving  us,  rushed  towards  ihe  cutter, 
satisfied  this  time  that  they  had  hit  upon  a  party  of  Yanks, 
as  they  called  the  Federals. 

While  the  sailors  were  landing  the  baggage  which  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Gowen  owned,  I  watched  the  operations  of  the 
mob.  They  clustered  around  the  boat,  and  for  a  short 
time  contented  themselves  with  calling  the  sailors  hard 
names ;  but,  as  the  men  of  war  took  but  little  notice  of 
such  conduct,  the  rabble  threw  a  few  stones,  and  then 
sand,  and  with  the  latter  some  hard  words,  just  enough  to 
awaken  the  indignation  of  the  boat's  crew.  The  officers 
who  had  landed  hurried  up  town  with  orders  to  the  cock- 
.swain  to  wait  a  few  minutes  for  their  return. 

"  Shall  we  stand  all  this  ?  "  cried  one  of  the  crew  of  the 
cutter. 

"Up,  Stingerees,  and  at  'em  !  "  yelled  the  cockswain; 
and,  boat-hook  in  hand,  he  leaped  ashore,  right  into  the 
midst  of  the  pirates. 

"  Let  go,  and  haul !  "  the  young  fellow  yelled  ;  and 
down  upon  the  head  of  one  man  fell  the  boat-hook. 

"  Stingerees,  show  your  sting,"  was  the  cry  ;  and  oars 
were  raised,  and  boat-stretchers  were,  flourished,  and  in 
the  midst  of  the  crowd  the  Yankee  tars  charged,  laying 
about  to  the  right  and  left,  knocking  down  the  loafers 
without  mercy,  or  regard  for  life  or  limb. 

"  Yanks  !  Yanks  !  Yanks !  "  yelled  the  Nassau  pirates. 

It  was  the  beach-combers'  war-cry. 

From  all  parts  of  the  beach  the  Nassau  people  hastened 
to  the  rescue ;  and,  thus  reinforced,  the  pirates  com- 
menced driving  the  sailors. 

"  Shall  we  stand  that,  shipmates  ?  "  demanded  the  crew 
of  the  cutter,  who  were  unloading  Mrs.  Gowen's  traps. 


RUNNING  THE    BLOCKADE.  177 

The  response  was  a  rush  for  the  scene  of  the  fight.,  the 
men  armed  with  boat-hooks  and  stretchers. 

Thus  re-enforced,  the  tars  compelled  the  Nassau  beach- 
combers to  give  way  in  confusion  ;  but  just  as  they  were 
about  to  run,  a  lot  of  sailors  belonging  to  the  blockade 
runners  lying  in  the  harbor  issued  from  grog-shops  in  the 
neighborhood,  and  turned  the  tide  of  battle  in  favor  of  the 
shore  people  ;  but  not  until  half  a  dozen  loafers  were 
stretched  on  the  beach  almost  lifeless. 

Just  at  this  moment  the  two  officers  froin  the  Stingeree 
rushed  down  to  the  beach,  and  with  drawn  ^words  at- 
tempted to  separate  the  belligerents. 

But  they  might  as  well  have  called  upon  bulldogs  to 
cease  fighting ;  for  the  sailors  were  determined  to  avenge 
some  of  the  insults  that  had  been  heaped  upon  them  ; 
while  the  Nassau  pirates  were  desirous  of  annihilating 
those  who  were  interfering  with  their  bread  and  butter. 
But,  discouraged  at  the  influence  of  their  officers,  the 
sailors  began  to  give  way,  causing  the  others  to  press 
them  all  the  harder  ;  and  just  as  I  thought  the  tars  would 
turn  and  run  for  their  boats,  a  new  actor  appeared  on  the 
scene,  —  one  whom  I  was  much  surprised  to  see. 

"  Shucks,  you  mean  cowards  !  fight  three  to  one,  will 
you  ?  Count  me  in.  Old  Kaintuck  forever !  Whoop  !  " 

It  was  Bowmount,  the  blunt  Kentuckian, — the  very 
man  who  had  damaged  Mr.  Gowen  with  the  glass 
?  bottle. 

I  saw  him  tear  off  his  coat,  draw  a  two-pound  bowie- 
knife,  and  rush  into  the  thickest  of  the  fight. 

"  Bully  for  the  Union  !  "  he  yelled.  "  Whoop  !  Kiyi! 
Give  'em  shucks  !  Bah  !  " 

Heaven  only  knows  whether  it  was  the  formidable 
knife,  the  unearthly  yells,  the  horrible  imprecations,  or 
the  threatening  appearance  of  the  Kentuckian,  whose  eyes 
and  face  looked  murderous,  that  struck  fear  to  the  hearts 


178  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 

of  the  pirates ;  but  it  is  a  fact,  that  no  sooner  did  they 
hear  his  war-whoop,  and  see  the  flash  of  his  bowie-knife, 
than  terror  took  possession  of  .them. 

"  A  knife  !  a  knife  !  "  was  the  cry  from  all  quarters. 

They  instantly  gave  way,  and  began  fleeing  in  confusion. 

At  this  moment  Mrs.  Gowen  whispered  softly  to  me,  — 

"  You  see  my  husband?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  You  notice  that  he  trembles  ?  " 

"  He  appeal's  agitated." 

"  You  can  imagine  the  cause  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  the  row  he  has  just  witnessed  has  disturbed 
his  nerves." 

"  Partly.  But  there  is  something  else.  The  sight  of 
that  rude  brute,  that  Kentuckian,  has  recalled  the  scene  at 
the  hotel,  and  the  threats  -he  made  to  kill  him." 

"  I  think  there  need  be  no  fear  on  that  account." 

"With  you,  there  would  be  none;  but  Mr.  Go  wen's 
nerves  are  not  like  yours.  Come,  now  ;  have  pity  on  me, 
and  do  us  a  favor  at  the  same  time." 

"  Willingly.     What  shall  it  be  ?  " 

"  Go  to  that  wild  brute,  and  tame  him.  Make  him  give 
you  guarantees  that  he  will  not  harm  Mr.  Gowen,  or  even 
speak  with  him.  If  he  does  not  promise,  I  shall  have  to 
defend  my  husband  with  my  life." 

I  promised,  and  instantly  started  to  confer  with  the 
Keiituckian,  and  also  to  remove  him  from  the  beach,  for 
he  was  liable  at  any  moment  to  arrest  for  assault  with  a 
dangerous  weapon. 

The  officers  of  the  Stingeree  understood  the  matter ;  for 
as  they  glanced  along  the  landing,  and  saw  some  dozen 
cracked  heads  lying  on  the  sand,  they  determined  to  reach 
their  ship  as  soon  as  possible,  and  thus  escape  all  dangers 
from  a  court  of  law,  —  where  prosecution  would  be  rigor- 
ous, and  conviction  sure,  especially  if  the  parties  arraigned 
were  Federals. 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  170 

They  left  Bowmount  standing  near  the  landing,  uncon- 
scious of  all  that  was  going  on  ;  for  as  I  approached  him, 
he  muttered,  — 

"  The  purtiest  little  fight  I've  seen  this  side  of  Old 
Kaintuck ;  and  not  a  man  of  'em  dared  to  stand  up 
and  face  me.  Shucks  !  Dog  on  'em  !  what's  the  rea- 
son they  couldn't  give  a  man  a  chance  to  have  a  little 
fun  ?  " 

"  Well,  old  fellow,  how  are  you  ?  "  I  asked,  as  I  laid  a 
hand  on  his  arm. 

The  Kentuckian  started,  and  once  more  placed  his 
hand  on  the  knife  he  had  sheathed  beneath  his  vest. 

"  Bowmount,"  I  continued,  "  how  are  you  ?  Couldn't 
keep  out  of  the  fight  —  could  you  ?  " 

"  Ah,  I  didn't  think  it  was  in  you  to  do  as  you  have 
done,"  was  the  reply.  "  Shucks  !  didn't  I  put  more  trust 
in  you  than  in  any  other  man  ?  " 

"  Well,  suppose  you  did  ?  How  have  I  betrayed  that 
trust?  Come,  old  fellow,  speak  quick,  or  you  will  find  p. 
squad  of  police  down  here  after  those  who  were  engaged 
in  the  disturbance." 

"  Well,  it  wouldn't  grieve  me  so  much  to  be  took  as  to 
know  that  I  has  put  confidence  in  a  man  what  turns  agin 
me." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  That's  what  I  mean." 

There  was  a  look  of  defiance  in  the  Kentuckian's  face, 
as  though  he  were  "  mad  all  through,"  and  nearly  inclined 
for  another  fight. 

"  You  are  laboring  under  a  mistake,"  I  said,  "  or  else 
you  want  to  quarrel  with  me.  If  the  latter  be  your  ob- 
ject, I  shall  not  gratify  you  until  I  am  satisfied  that  you 
have  grounds  for  your  complaint." 

"  You  South  Carolina  chaps,"  was  the  answer,  "  is 
pe-ert  —  mighty  pe-ert ;  but  old  Kaintuck's  as  good  as 
any  of  'em,  now  I  tell  you." 


180  RUNNING    THE    BLOCKADE. 

"  Never  mind  that,"  I  remarked.  "  You  come  with  atj 
to  a  place  where  there  will  be  no  danger  of  arrest,  and 
then  I'll  talk  with  you." 

Bowmount  followed  me,  in  a  quiet  manner,  to  a  part  of 
the  landing  where  we  would  be  screened  from  observation. 
To  be  sure  he  muttered,  in  a  low  tone,  some  grievance 
that  he  had  at  heart ;  but  I  could  not  detect  what  he 
meant  until  L  turned  on  him,  and  said,  — 

•"  Now,  free  your  mind,  Bowmount.  What  have  1 
done  ?  " 

"  I  shouldn't  have  thought  it  of  yer,  dog  on  it !  " 

"  You  have  said  that  several  tunes  already."  I  said. 

He  turned  on  me  like  a  panther,  and  replied  fiercely,  — 

"  1  knows  it ;  and  I'll  say  it  several  times  agin,  if  I 
wants  to." 

"  No,  you  won't,"  I  answered,  "  at  least  to  me  ;  for  if 
you  are  disposed  to  continue  it,  I  shall  take  an  early  op- 
portunity of  leaving  you  to  talk  to  yourself." 

"You  South  Carolinians  is  pe-ert ;  but,  shucks  !  we  is 
pe-erter.  Old  Kaintuck  won't  back  down  for  any  of 
you." 

"  No  one  wants  you  to,"  I  responded.  "  But  if  you 
can't  explain  what  the  trouble  is,  I'll  leave  you.'" 

I  was  about  to  move  off,  when  Bowmount  remarked,  — 

"  What  did  you  cut  and  run  for,  jist  when  I  wanted  yer 
to  help  me  ?  " 

"  Is  that  the  trouble  ?  " 

"  Yes,  it  is.  Where  has  you  stowed  .yerself  the  last 
few  days  ?  Why  did  yer  leave  me  all  alone  with  none 
but  the  mean  sneaks  at  the  hotel  to  talk  to?  Why 
couldn't  you  ha*e  said  to  me,  '  Bowmount,  I'm  tired  of 
'your  rough  ways.  You  like  to  fight  too  well  for  my 
money.  I  don't  take  any  pleasure  in  your  company,  so 
I'll  quit  you  at  once  ? '  Yer  might  have  done  that,  and 
no  one  would  have  gin  yer  a  more  tough  shake  of  the 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  181 

hand  than  me,  a  dog-on-'em  sort  of  a  feller   what  likes 
fair  play  and  square  sort^  of  men." 

"  And  that  is  what  you  have  in  my  disfavor  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Yes ;  and  enough  it  is  for  any  man." 

"  Well,  suppose  I  should  prove  to  you  that  I  had  tc 
leave  in  opposition  to  my  own  wishes  ?  " 

"  How's  that  ?  I'd  like  to  see  the  man  what  could 
make  me  leave  unless  I  wanted  to." 

"  You  are  a  brave  man,"  I  said,  "  and  a  strong  one  ;  but 
even  you  might  be  taken  by  surprise,  and  forced  to  sur- 
render." 

"  O,  a  sneakin'  chap  might  hit  me  on  the  head  when  my 
back  was  turned.  Of  course  all  men  is  liable  to  that  sort 
of  tiling." 

"  Well,  old  fellow,  that  is  just  the  manner  I  was  served. 
See,"  and  I  removed  my  hat,  "where  a  shing-shot  struck 
my  head,  and  almost  fractured  my  skull." 

''  Shucks  !  so  it  did.     How  did  it  happen  ?  " 

"  Well,  that  is  more  than  I  can  tell.  I  was  on  the 
beach,  after  I  parted  from  you,  some  one  struck  me,  and 
it  was  the  last  that  I  knew  until  I  awoke  on  board  the 
blockade-runner  Pet,  on  her  way  to  Wilmington." 

"  The  deuce  !  you  don't  say  so  I  " 

"  I'm  telling  you  the  truth." 

"  I  know  you  are.  Don't  think  I'm  the  man  to  dispute 
yer.  Shucks  !  it's  jist  like  a  romance.  But  how  conies 
yer  here  ?  That's  the  question.  If  yer  was  on  the  Pet, 
why  ain't  yer  thar  now  ?  It's  a  long  ways  from  here  to 
Wilmington,  and  a  vessel  don't  move  like  a  s waller." 

"  I'm  only  too  thankful  that  I  am  not  on  board  the 
Pet,  for  she  is  bound  North,  in  charge  of  a  prize  crew  ; 
and  I'm  here,  a  free  man,  and  not  a  prisoner." 

"Was  she  took?"  (^manded  Bowmount,  with  a  sur- 
prised look. 

"  Yes ;  and  there  lies  her  captor,  the  Federal  gunboat 


182  RUNNING   THE  BLOCKADE. 

Stingeree,  —  the  crew  of  which  you  assisted  a  few  miu 
utes  ago."  ^ 

"  Whew  !  the  deuce  I  did  I  "  whistled  the  Kentuckian, 
with  a  peculiar  expression  ou  his  red  face.  "  What  a 
blamed  fool  I  am — ain't  I?  But  never  mind  that  just 
now,  old  boy.  We'll  talk  of  that  matter  some  other  time. 
What  I  wants  to  know  is  how  the  Yanks  come  to  let  you 
up." 

"  By  the  aid  of  a  handsome  woman." 

"  O  I  is  that  the  lay  ?  Well,  who  is  the  woman  that  did 
all  that  for  yer  ?  " 

"  One  whom  you  have  injured." 

"  O,  shucks  !  golong.  I  don't  know  any  woman  what  I 
have  injured.  I  wouldn't  hurt  the  hair  of  a  woman's 
head.  Name  her." 

"  Mrs.  Go  wen." 

"  Dog  on  it !  you  don't  say  so  ?  How  come  she  on 
board  the  Pet?" 

"  You  frightened  her  so  badly  that  she  compelled  her 
husband  to  leave  in  a  hurry." 

Bowmount  looked  a  little  guilty,  and  tried  to  change 
the  conversation,  but  I  wouldn't  let  him.  I  held  him  to 
the  mark. 

"  After  I  left  you,  on  the  evening  of  the  row,  you  sent 
a  challenge  to  Mr.  Gowen." 

"  Yes,  I  s'pose  I  did." 

"  You  promised  me  that  you  would  do  nothing  of  the 
kind." 

"  I  know ;  but  you  see  you  left  me  all  alone,  and  J 
began  to  think  that  rascally  Georgian  would  boast  that 
old  Kaintuck  had  no  courage  for  a  fair  fight ;  so  I  jist  sent " 
him  a  letter,  and  I  worded  it  pretty  strong.  Then  I  went 
to  sleep ;  and  when  I  woke  up  in^he  mornin'  you  warn't 
to  be  found,  and  Gowen  had  cut  and  run  for  it.  I  didn't 
know  what  to  think  ;  so  I  put  you  all  down  as  mean 
Biioaks  what  didn't  understand  civilized  ways." 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  183 

"Do  you  still  think  so" 

"  There's  my  hand,  Baruwell.  I  won't  lift  it  agin  yer, 
nor  agin  any  man  what  is  yer  friend." 

"  O  !  I'm  not  alarmed  on  my  own  account.  I  was  think- 
ing of  Go  wen  and  his  wife." 

"I'll  be  like  a  lamb  to  'em,"  the  Kentuckian  cried. 
"  Only  don't  you  go  back  on  me —  will  you  ?  " 

"  No,  —  not  if  you  will  come  up  to  the  mark  like  a  man, 
and  offer  your  hand  to  Mr.  Gowen. " 

"  I'm  a  man,  and  will  do  it." 

"  Then  come  with  me." 

The  brawny  Kentuckian  put  his  arm  through  mine,  and 
we  walked  to  the  place  where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gowen  were 
waiting  for  a  carriage  to  take  them  to  the  Royal  Humbug 
Hotel. 

Mr.  Gowen  looked  uneasy  and  felt  uneasy  when  he  saw 
the  Kentuckian  approach ;  but  his  wife  drew  up  her  well- 
proportioned  form,  flashed  her  eyes,  and  ruffled  her  plu- 
mage like  a  royal  eagle  annoyed  by  the  approach  of  some 
mean  bird  or  sneaking  hunter. 

"  Mr.  Goweu,"  said  the  Kentuckian,  u  thar's  my  hand. 
We  have  had  a  fight,  and  you  got  the  worst  punishment, 
ff  you  don't  mind  that,  I  don't,  I'm  sure.  Shall  we  be 
friends,  or  shall  we  be  enemies  ?  " 

"  Friends,  by  all  means,"  was  the  eager  reply.  And 
they  shook  hands. 

As  soon  as  this  was  accomplished,  I  hurried  Bowmount 
from  the  beach,  and  we  reached  the  hotel  in  safety. 

I  once  more  dressed  myself  in  my  own  apparel,  and 
descended  to  the  veranda  of  the  hotel.  The  first  man  I 
met  there  was  Colonel  Rhett,  the  Virginian,  —  the'same 
old  scoundrel  who  had  been  instrumental  in  having  me 
carried  on  board  the  Pet  after  I  had  been  struck  sense- 
less by  a  slung-shot  in  the  hands  of  a  sailor  working  under 
his  directions. 


184  RUNNING   THE  BLOCKADE. 

"  Ah,  lieutenant !  "  said  the  colonel,  giving  a  sudden 
hobble  as  he  spoke,  as  though  requiring  considerable  sup- 
port from  his  stick,  —  for  he  seemed  lame  by  spells,  as 
though  his  rheumatism  was  troublesome,  —  "I  am  glad  to 
see  you  to-day." 

The  old  rascal  extended  his  hand  as  though  he  was  sure 
of  a  warm  welcome.  I  took  his  proffered  hand,  and 
squeezed  it ;  for  I  did  not  mean  to  let  the  old  cheat  know 
that  I  was  aware  o'f  his  treachery.  I  meant  to  pay  him  in 
his  own  coin  at  some  future  time. 

"  Where  have  you  kept  yourself  for  the  past  few  days  ?  " 
the  colonel  asked,  in  a  soothing,  confidential  tone.  "  My 
daughter  has  inquired  for  you  several  times.  Have  you 
been  sick  ?  " 

"  It  seems  that  you  have  not  heard  the  story  of  my 
adventures." 

"  Adventures  ?  No,  indeed.  Pray  tell  me  what  kind 
of  adventures." 

1  wanted  to  rave  at  the  old  scoundrel ;  but  restrained 
my  feelings,  thinking  the  time  would  come  for  a  sweet 
revenge.  I  had  to  fight  such  a  man  with  his  own  weapons. 
So,  in  as  composed  a  manner  as  possible,  I  related  how  I 
had  been  knocked  down,  and  then  carried  to  the  Pet, 
and  all  the  particulars  of  her  capture,  &c. 

The  gallant  old  colonel  listened  (I  wanted  to  knock  the 
hypocrite  heels  over  head)  with  all  the  marks  of  astonish- 
ment that  he  could  command ;  and,  when  I.  had  concluded, 
he  swore  that  an  outrage  had  been  committed,  and  that  I 
should  apply  to  the  governor  for  redress,  and  that,  "  if 
some  notice  was  not  taken  of  it,  the  Southern  Confederacy 
would  look  after  the  affair  when  the  proper  time  arrived." 

"  Bah !  "  I  replied,  with  an  expression  of  contempt. 
"  The  governor  could  do  nothing  ;  and,  as  for  the  con- 
federacy, it  has  as  much  as  it  wants  to  attend  to  at  present." 

"  That's  so,"  replied  the  colonel,  in  so  hearty  a  manner 
that  I  looked  at  the  man  in  astonishment. 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  185 

He  noticed  my  surprise,  and  attempted  to  explain 
matters  ;  but  while  he  was  uttering  some  commonplace 
remarks,  full  of  Virginia's  peculiar  dialect,  Miss  Rhett, 
the  old  gentleman's  daughter,  made  her  appearance,  look- 
ing as  lovely  as  she  appeared  on  the  first  day  that  I  sa\v 
her. 

"  O,  Mr.  Barnwell !  "  she  cried,  in  a  gushing  tone,  trip- 
ping towards  me,  both  of  her  little  hands  extended  in  the 
frankest,  freest,  most  amiable  manner.  "  O,  how  pleased 
I  am  to  see  you  ?  "  she  continued,  as  she  put  her  little 
white  fingers  in  my  hand,  and  allowed  them  to  remain 
there  for  the  space  of  a  minute.  "  You  are  a  naughty 
man  to  keep  away  from  us  for  such  a  length  of  time.'" 

"  I  didn't  think  Miss  Rhett  would  miss  me  when  she 
had  so  many  polite  gentlemen  to  entertain  her,"  I  said  ; 
for  I  remembered  how  she  had  favored  Soule*  on  the 
passage  to  Nassau. 

The  young  lady  smiled,  and  glanced  at  her  father  ;  and 
the  old  gentleman  seemed  to  take  the  hint,  for  he  said,  - 

"  Come  to  our  room,  Mr.  Baruwell,  and  have  a  social 
glass  of  wine,  and  a  quiet  smoke." 

I  should  have  refused,  but  the  young  lady  laid  her 
hand  on  my  arm,  and  whispered,  — 

"  O,  do  come." 

Her  eyes  looked  too  inviting  to  decline  such  an  invita- 
tion, so  man-like  I  went. 

When  we  arrived  at  the  room,  wine  was  placed  on  the 
table,  and  Miss  Rhett  insisted  that  I  should  light  a  cigar, 
and  smoke  in  company  with  her  father,  just  for  her  gratifi- 
cation. She  did  like  the  smell  of  cigar  smoke  ;  and  gentle- 
men took  so  much  comfort  with  tobacco,  that  it  seemed  a 
pity  to  deprive  them  of  it.  She  was  sure  she  should 
want  her  husband  to  smoke  cigars,  and  she  should  not 
object  if  he  used  a  pipe.  But  then  she  never  expected  to 

be   married,  so   what   was   the   use   of  talking   on   that 
13 


186  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADL. 

subject.  Then  she  laughed,  and  appeared  a  little  an- 
noyed, as  though  she  had  overstepped  the  bounds  of 
maiden  modesty. 

Colonel  Rhett  did  not  check  his  daughter.  He  seemed 
so  accustomed  to  her  child-like  ways,  that  he  did  not  appear 
to  notice  her  prattle,  or  think  that  it  was  necessary  to 
reprove  it ;  but,  while  I  was  listening  to  the  young  lady, 
the  colonel  all  of  a  sudden  espied  some  one  on  the  grounds 
of  the  hotel,  and  he  must  have  desired  to  see  him  very 
much,  for  he  turned  to  me,  and  said,  — 

"  Remain  here  ten  minutes,  won't  you,  while  I  speak  to 
Richards.  I'll  be  back  in  that  time.  Entertain  him, 
Magnolia." 

He  was  gone  before  I  could  remonstrate. 

Hardly  had  the  door  closed,  before  the  young  lady  drew 
her  chair  nearer  to  mine,  and  said,  — 

"  I'm  glad  he's  gone." 

"  Why  ?  " 

"  Because  I  can  now  have  a  pleasant  chat  with  you.  I 
feel,  Mr.  Barn  well,  so  much  interest  in  the  fate  of  the 
confederacy,  that  I  want  to  talk  to  you  on  the  hopes  and 
prospects  of  the  South.  You  know  all  that  is  going  on, 
or,  if  you  don't,  you  should ;  and  I  want  you  to  tell  me 
what  is  your  candid  opinion  of  the  condition  of  things." 

"  You  can  read  and  use  your  eyes,"  I  said.     "  Look 
towards  the  harbor,  and  see  the  fleet  of  blockade  runners 
loaded  with  supplies  for  the  South ;  glance  over  the  North 
ern  papers,  and  see  how  despondent  they  are.     All  show 
that  the  end  is  not  far  off." 

"  O,  how  glad  I  am  to  hear  you  talk  in  that  manner  ! 
You  give  me  such  encouragement." 

Yet  in  truth  the  girl  did  not  look  as  though  she  were 
delighted. 

"  Do  you  know  the  names  of  all  the  blockade  runners 
n  port,  Mr.  Barn  well  ?  "  the  lady  asked. 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  187 

"0,  jes  !  there  are  six  of  them." 

"  And  is  it  possible  that  you  know  what  is  on  board  of 
each?  How  singular  !  " 

"  It  is  not  so  very  singular  if  you  think  of  the  matter  for 
a  moment.  I  am  a  sailor,  and  take  an  interest  in  such 
matters." 

"  True,  true.  I  didn't  think  of  that.  Now,  shall  I  test 
your  knowledge  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  I  don't  believe  you  know,  but  I  have  a  good  mind  to 
ask  the  question.  Papa  will  never  talk  with  me  on  matters 
that  interest  all  noble-hearted  girls." 

"  Well,  put  my  knowledge  to  the  test,"  I  said.  "  Ask 
me  any  question  that  you  please,  and  see  if  I  don't  answer 
it  to  your  satisfaction." 

"  Now,"  the  lady  said,  with  a  pleasant  smile,  "  tell  me 
what  is  on  board  of  the  Saucy  Jane." 

"  There  are  on  board  the  Saucy  Jane  two  batteries  of 
guns,  ten  thousand  rifles,  and  some  medicines  and  wine." 

She  clapped  her  hands  in  glee. 

"  O,  how  I  hope  she  will  run  the  blockade  in  safety  I 
Do  you  know  when  she  will  sail  ?  " 

"Some  time  to-night." 

"  Indeed.     So  soon  ?  " 

For  a  moment  she  was  thoughtful,  as  though  making 
some  mental  calculation;  and  then  she  looked  up  and 
asked,  — 

"  Do  you  know  what  is  on  board  the  Spitfire  ?  " 

I  didn't  know,  but  replied,  — 

"  Powder,  guns,  boots  and  shoes,  and  confederate  gray." 

"  And  when  does  she  sail  ?  " 

"  On  Sunday,  I  think,  unless  there  is  some  Yankee 
vessel  outside." 

"  And  the  rest  of  the  steamers,  —  do  you  know  when 
they  wiU  start?" 


188  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

"Just  as  soon  as  their  agents,  Alderny  &  Co.,  say  the 
word." 

Just  at  this  moment  there  was  a  sharp  knock  at  the 
door,  and  who  should  enter  the  apartment  but  Mrs. 
Gowen,  the  Georgian  heiress. 

I  am  certain  that  I  had  done  nothing  to  provoke  hei 
wrath,  even  if  she  had  possessed  a  right  to  control  my 
actions ;  so  I  was  much  surprised  when  the  Georgia  lady, 
after  entering  the  apartment,  and  closing  the  door,  turned 
full  upon  Miss  Rhett,  and,  with  scorn  and  rage  depictured 
in  every  feature,  said,  — 

"  Here  are  pretty  goings-on,  I  am  sure.  A  nice  little 
party  this,  with  the  stern  papa  left  out  for  some  purpose 
or  other.  I  am  not  as  blind  as  a  bat,  I  would  have  you  to 
know  ;  for  I  can  see  into  a  private  arrangement  as  far  as 
the  next  person.  This  I  consider  as  highly  improper." 

"  May  I  ask  to  what  you  allude  ? "  demanded  Miss 
Rhett. 

This  young  lady's  first  emotion,  on  seeing  the  proud 
Georgian,  was  that  of  pleasure,  simply  because  a  haughty 
woman  likes  to  receive  a  call  from  another. 

"  It  is  evident  enough." 

The  flashing  eyes  were  turned  on  me,  but  only  for  a 
moment.  Then  they  were  directed  to  Miss  Rhett,  as 
though  she  were  the  culprit  on  whom  all  the  scorn  and 
indignation  should  be  concentrated. 

"  I  do  not  understand  you,  Mrs.  Gowen." 

"  Then  it  would  be  improper  for  me  to  explain  all  that 
you  should  know.  Good  day." 

She  turned,  and  was  gone  before  I  could  utter  a  word  in 
reply.  Miss  Rhett  and  I  looked  at  each  other  in  silence 
for  a  moment,  and  then  laughed.  We  could  not  help  it, 
the  scene  had  been  so  ludicrous. 

"  Well,"  said  the  dark-eyed  Virginian,  with  some  little 
signs  of  embarrassment,  "  I  suppose  that  I  shall  have  a 


RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE.  189 

dreadful  name  for  my  wickedness  ;  but  I  shall  look  to  you 
for  vindication." 

"  "We  have  had  a  pleasant  chat,"  I  returned. 

"  Yes ;  I  am  sure  that  we  have.  You  don't  know  how 
much  you  have  instructed  me.  And  all  for  the  love  of 
our  dear  South." 

She  gave  me  her  hand  as  she  spoke.  At  that  moment 
Colonel  Rhett  returned.  Hardly  was  he  in  the  room 
before  the  door  flew  open  without  a  warning  knock,  and 
in  rushed  Sould,  the  rebel  despatch-bearer. 

He  was  so  eager  and  joyful  that  he  did  not  notice  me, 
but  ran  straight  to  Miss  Rhett,  caught  her  hi  his  arms, 
and  showered  several  kisses  upon  her  face  before  he  was 
aware  of  my  presence. 

Perhaps  I  was  astonished  more  than  the  colonel ;  for 
the  latter  simply  said,  — 

"  Mr.  Soule",  I  am  surprised  at  your  extraordinary 
conduct." 

"  My  dear  sir,"  was  the  answer,  "  I  am  so  happy  that 
you  need  be  surprised  at  nothing.  Miss  Rhett  will  for- 
give me  for  what  I  have  done,  when  I  tell  her  that 
McClellan  has  been  defeated  in  front  of  Richmond,  and  his 
army  not  only  broken  up,  but  a  great  part  of  it  destroyed. 
The  fate  of  the  Southern  Confederacy  is  now  certainly 
assured." 

I  was  confounded  at  this  statement,  and  could  not  be- . 
lieve  that  it  was  true  ;  but  if  I  looked  for  a  moment  the 
dismay  that  I  felt,  the  Rhetts  certainly  were  overwhelmed 
with  joy ;  for  they  could  not  •  speak,  but  gazed  at  each 
other  in  silent  amazement,  while  Sould  gave  vent  to  his 
joy  by  throwing  up  his  hat  and  cheering  most  extrava- 
gantly. 

"  Is  this  certain  ?  Is  the  news  from  an  authentic 
source  ?  "  I  demanded,  after  I  had  crushed  the  ago:ay  that 
tore  at  my  heart-strings. 


190  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  A  steamer  has  just  arrived  from  New  York,"  replied 
Soule" ;  "  and  our  friends  in  that  city  have  sent  us  the 
most  reliable  information.  Whoop  !  The  military  power 
of  the  North  is  destroyed,  and  the  South  is  free.  My  dear 
Miss  Rhett,  do  allow  me  to  shake  hands  with  you  on  the 
strength  of  it.  We  shall  now  belong  to  one  of  the  first 
nations  in  the  world." 

"The  North  won't  give  it  up  yet,"  remarked  the  colonel, 
after  a  long  silence. 

Then  he  looked  at  his  daughter  with  a  wearied  air,  as 
though  he  was  too  much  elated  to  cheer  at  the  tidings  he 
had  heard. 

"  But  it  must  give  it  up,"  was  Soule"'s  reply.  "  The 
North  is  bankrupt,  and  men  can  no  longer  be  driven  into 
the  army,  or  hired  to  volunteer.  I  have  travelled  all  over 
the  country,  and  know  what  I  state.  The  last  army  the 
North  can  raise  is  crushed  in  front  of  Richmond." 

The  enthusiastic  young  man  rushed  towards  Miss  Rhett 
to  take  her  in  his  arms,  and  once  more  embrace  her ;  but 
the  young  lady  dodged  in  an  adroit  manner,- so  that  the 
young  fellow  missed  his  prize,  and  with  a  laugh  left  the 
room  to  impart  the  information  to  others  as  deeply  inter- 
ested as  himself. 

I  then  bowed  myself  out  of  the  apartment,  and  found 
Mrs.  Gowen  near  the  head  of  the  main  stairs,  where  she 
seemed  to  have  been  waiting  for  me. 

"  O,  you  mean,  deceitful  man  !  "  she  said  in  a  vin- 
dictive manner,  and  with  a  look  that  showed  how  angry 
she  was. 

"  For  Heaven's  sake,  what  have  I  done  ?  "  I  demanded. 

"  Done  ?  "  she  repeated  in  a  tone  of  supreme  contempt. 
"  What  haven't  you  done  ?  " 

"  Hollo  !  here's  a  jolly  row." 

Mrs.  Gowen  heard  the  dreaded  Kentuckian's  voice, 
turned  and  fled  precipitately,  leaving  me  to  explain  mat- 
ters to  Bowmount. 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  191 

"  What's  the  matter,  my  boy  ?  "  he  asked. 

I  explained  to  the  Kentuckian  that  Mrs.  Gowen  was 
fretful.  Just  at  that  moment  some  one  came  along,  and 
said  something  about  the  "  glorious  news  from  Rich- 
mond ;  "  and  it  started  Bowmount  on  another  track. 

"  Shucks !  "  he  said.  "  You  fellers  go  crazy  over  a  vic- 
tory, and  think  that  the  war  is  ended  because  one  of  the 
Northern  armies  is  drove  back.  I  tell  you  another  army 
will  spring  up,  and  take  its  place.  You  fellows  don't 
know  the  North  as  well  as  I  do ;  and  some  of  you  don't 
know  the  South,  though  you  have  lived  there  all  your  nat- 
eral  days." 

Here  some  one,  flushed  with  the  news,  and  not  having 
the  fear  of  Bowmount's  bowie-knife  before  his  eyes,  inti- 
mated that  the  Kentuckian  was  no  true  Southerner. 

"  Perhaps  I'm  not,"  was  the  reply.  But  it  was  made 
in  good-nature,  much  to  my  surprise  ;  for  I  expected  he 
would  fall  into  a  terrible  passion.  x'  I  am  so  good,  though, 
that  I  would  have  prevented  this  war  if  I  could,  and 
would  have  .hung  every  infernal  scoundrel  that  attempted 
to  urge  it  on." 

There  was  a  murmur  of  indignation  at  this,  and  one  or 
two  hostile  demonstrations  ;  but  the  Kentuckian  replied 
calmly,  — 

"  Let's  argue  the  p'int,  and  see  who  is  the  best  friend 
of  the  South." 

Unfortunately  Bowmount  just  at  that  moment  placed 
his  hand  in  his  breast-pocket.  Although  I  am  confident 
that  he  meant  nothing  by  the- action,  yet  it  appeared  that 
all  dreaded  an  explosion  ;  for  there  was  such  a  sudden  re- 
treat, that  in  a  moment  the  Kentuckian  and  myself  were 
left  together. 

"  What's  the  meaning  of  this  ?  "  demanded  Bowmount, 
looking  around  in  a  puzzled  sort  of  surprise. 

I  could  not  help  laughing,  the  man  was  so  astonished  at 
the  sudden  flight  of  those  who  had  been  listeners. 


192  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  It  means,"  I  answered,  "  that  your  friends  expected  a 
shot  instead  of  an  argument.  They  can  stand  your  words, 
but  not  the  contents  of  your  revolver." 

"  Shucks  !  "  he  exclaimed  ;  "  is  that  so  ?  I  hadn't  the 
least  idea  of  drawin'  on  the  cowards.  If  I  had,  they 
wouldn't  have  got  away  with  whole  skins,  now  I  tell 
you." 

I  left  the  Kentuckian  marvelling  at  the  suspicions  of 
his  Southern  friends,  and  passed  down  stairs,  where  I 
mingled  with  the  crowd,  heard  the  comments  on  the  Vir- 
ginia news,  drank  with  some  of  the  more  moderate  of  the 
confeds,  talked  with  others,  and  then  retired  to  my  room, 
and  slept  till  luncheon. 

After  luncheon,  I  lighted  a  cigar,  and  walked  out, 
hoping  that  I  should  have  time  to  exchange  a  few  words 
with  the  American  consul  without  being  observed  by  the 
rebels  who  thronged  the  island. 

As  I  strolled  along,  regretting  the  bad  news  I  had  heard, 
some  one  touched  my  arm. 

"  If  you  please,  sur,  will  ye  be  kind  enough  to  give  me 
a  shillin'  to  prevent  me  bein'  choked  to  death  ?  " 

It  was  a  rich  brogue  that  saluted  my  ear,  and  the  owner 
of  the  same  was  a  young  fellow  dressed  in  the  garb  of  a 
sailor  —  blue  shirt,  pants,  and  a  Scotch  cap,  with  a  leather 
belt  and  jack-knife  attached. 

I  could  not  get  a  full  view  of  the  lad's  face  (for  he 
appeared  to  be  but  a  lad)  on  account  of  the  cap  which 
he  wore,  having  drawn  it  over  his  eyes  in  an  unsailorlike 
fashion. 

"  Have  you  an  idea  of  hanging  yourself?  "  I  asked. 

"  No,  yer  honor.     Why  does  yer  ask  ?  " 

"  For  the  simple  reason  that  you  said  you  intended  to 
choke  unless  you  had  a  shilling." 

"  Ah,  yer  honor  ;  but  'tis  for  the  want  of  whiskey  I  suf- 
fer. A  small  coin  will  now  save  me  from  a  terrible  death." 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  193 

"  Why,  you  impudent  vagabond,"  I  replied.  "  A  young 
fellow  like  you  should  be  above  begging." 

"  I  know,  yer  honor ;  but  what  is  a  buy  to  do  when  he 
has  nary  a  shot  in  the  locker,  and  is  terrible  dry  ?  " 

The  impudence  of  the  scamp  amused  me.  I  handed 
him  a  shilling,  and  was  about  to  pass  on,  when  the  rogue 
gently  touched  me  on  the  arm. 

"  If  you  plase,  sir,  couldn't  you  add  anither  one  to  it? 
I'm  awful  when  I'm  dry." 

"  You  impudent  scoundrel !  "  I  said.  "  If  you  don't 
take  yourself  off,  I'll  keelhaul  you  !  " 

The  young  man  chuckled,  and  I  passed  on.  I  had 
walked  but  a  few  paces  when  I  found  that  the  persistent 
beggar  was  following  me  ;  so  turned  on  him  with  a  regu- 
lar quarter-deck  air. 

"  Didn't  I  tell  you  to  crowd  sail  and  be  off?"  I  de- 
manded. 

"  Yes,  yer  honor." 

"  And  will  you  mind  me  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  sir.     That's  what  I  was  sent  on  shore  for." 

\he  youngster  raised  his  hand  and  brushed  away  his 
cap  as  he  spoke,  changing  his  tone  entirely  from  rank 
brogue  to  good  English. 

"  Why,  Harry  !  is  this  you  ?  "  I  demanded ;  for  I  saw 
before  me  Harry  Reefpoint,  the  young  midshipman  of  the 
Stingeree. 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  here  I  am,  with  orders  to  report  to  you." 

•'  I  did  not  recognize  you,  and  should  not  have  noticed 
you." 

"  No,  sir  ;  I  hope  not.  My  brogue,  sir,  I  trust,  was 
perfect.  It  was  put  on  for  effect,  like  sky-scrapers  to  a 
merchant-ship.  But  I'll  take  any  character  you  like,  from 
a  Yankee  tar,  disgusted  with  the  North,  to  an  English 
jolly  and  drunken  scamp  of  a  sailor,  more  anxious  for  a 
swill  at  the  grog-tub  than  a  haul  at  the  purser's  stores. 


194  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

Tell  me  what  to  be,  and  I'm  all  that  your  fancy  painted 
me,  although  I'm  not  lovely  or  divine,  according  to  a 
man's  acceptance  of  the  term." 

"Well,  what  are  you  according  to  a  woman's  idea  on 
that  point  ?  " 

I  could  not  repress  a  smile  at  the  blush  that  mantled 
his  handsome  face,  and  glistened  in  his  speaking  eyes. 

"  Recollect,  sir,  that  we  gentlemen  and  men  of  honor 
are  commanded,  by  all  that  we  hold  sacred,  not  to  divulge 
the  secrets  of  a  lady.  A  sailor  is  too  chivalrous  to  think 
of  such  a  thing." 

"  Very  well  answered,  Harry,  and  I  hope  that  your 
modesty  will  last  through  life  ;  but  I  fear  not.  But  now 
to  business.  When  did  you  land  ?  " 

"  An  hour  or  two  since." 

"  And  the  Stingeree  is  ready  to  sail  as  soon  as  the 
twenty-four  hours  expire  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  That  is  right.  I  am  in  hopes  that  we  shall  find  work 
for  her  before  long." 

Harry  glanced  over  his  shoulder,  and  then  looked  all 
around  before  he  said,  — 

"  I've  already  heard  something  that  is  of  interest,  sir." 

"Indeed!     What  is  it?  " 

"  To-night  the  crew  of  the  Spitfire  is  to  be  shipped." 

"  Well,  can  we  prevent  it  ?  " 

"  No,  sir.  I  wouldn't  try  to.  She  is  a  bouncing  big 
steamer ;  is  crammed  full  of  guns,  rifles,  and  all  that  the 
South  wants.  If  she  should  run  the  blockade,  there 
would  be  great  rejoicing  in  Dixie,  and  mourning  in  the 
North." 

"  Is  the  Spitfire  fast  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.  She  beat  the  Pet  in  a  race  out  of  Liver- 
pool. I  think  that  even  the  Stingeree  would  have  to 
keep  in  her  wake,  although  the  gunboat  can  do  pretty 
well  alongside  of  the  farcy  sailers." 


RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE.  195 

"  Harry,  I  must  think  of  this  matter,  and  see  if  we  can't 
sarn  a  little  prize-money." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  You  know  where  the  men  are  to  be  shipped  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir ;  at  Bucknor's." 

"  If  we  could  get  a  dozen  or  twenty  of  the  Stingeree's 
crew  on  board,  there  would  be  little  trouble  in  making  a 
capture,"  I  suggested. 

"  Can't  we  do  it,  sir?  "  the  lad  asked  with  a  smile. 

"  Can  you  get  a  note  to  Captain  Switchell  ?  "  I  inquired. 

"  Yes,  sir.  He  is  on  shore  now,  and  at  the  consul's 
house." 

"  Well,  wait  here  until  I  return.  I  will  write  to  the 
captain,  and  detail  my  plan  ;  and  if  he  approves  it,  then  1 
will  make  any  attempt  on  the  steamer.  Keep  close  until 
I  come  back,  and  recollect  that  you  are  Harry  Bluff,  the 
English  lad." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  I  am  anxious  to  make  a  few  shillin's  by 
cheatin'  the  bloody  Yankees." 

Harry  would  have  willingly  given  me  some  more  speci- 
mens of  English  marine  humor,  if  I  had  waited  and  lis- 
tened ;  but  I  was  too  much  hurried,  wishing  to  write  the 
letter,  to  stop  and  heai;  him. 

I  returned  to  the  hotel,  and  found  that  all  the  boarders 
were  singing  songs,  and  that  "  Maryland,  my  Mary- 
land," was  one  of  them. 

"  Come  and  have  a  drink,  Barnwell,"  roared  the  South- 
erners as  I  hove  in  sight. 

"  I'm  in  a  hurry  just  at  this  moment." 

"  The  man  who  does  not  drink  on  such  an  occasion  as 
this  deserves  to  be  called  an  abolitionist,"  roared  one 
young  fellow,  who  had  left  the  sunny  South  for  the  pur- 
pose of  escaping  conscription,  and  serving  in  the  army. 

"That's  so,"  yelled  half  a  dozen  of  the  most  drunken. 
"  You  must  drink  with  us,  or  be  called  a  Northern  nigger- 
lover  " 


196  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 

A  roar  of  laughter  greeted  the  remark  ;  and  to  pre- 
vent suspicion,  I  joined  in  the  merriment,  and  went 
towards  the  bar  for  a  glass  of  iced  punch. 

4k  Who  says  a  man  what  don't  drink  with  you  is  a  nig- 
ger-lover? "  asked  a  deep  bass  voice,  which  I  knew  quit* 
well. 

It  was  Bowmount,  the  Kentuckian,  who  seemed  deter- 
mined to  make  his  presence  known  just  at  times  when  his 
Southern  friends  wished  him  to  the  antipodes. 

There  was  no  response  to  the  remark.  Even  those 
who  had  been  most  noisy  but  a  moment  before  were  silent 
now,  sipping  their  liquor,  and  smoking  their  cigars,  as 
though  to  occupy  their  time,  and  not  for  pleasure. 

Bowmount  was  more  than  half  intoxicated.  I  could 
see  that,  and  also  noticed  that  he  was  determined  to  quar- 
rel with  some  one,  or  even  with  all  in  the  room,  if  occa- 
sion was  given  him. 

"  I  won't  drink  with  your  mean  cowardly  party ;  and 
I  ain't  an  abolitionist,  nor  a  nigger-lover.  Who  says  I 
am?" 

There  was  no  response  to  this. 

"  Who'll  invite  me  to  drink  ?  Don't  all  speak  at  once. 
Shucks  !  dog  on  yer,  what  is  yer  afeard  of  ?  " 

"Take  a  glass  with  me,"  I  said,  and  passed  a 'cham- 
pagne bottle  to  him. 

"  No,  sir  ;  I  won't  drink  with  you.  But  I'll  liquor  with 
these  fellers  as  called  me  a  nigger-lover.  Whoop!" 

With  a  yell  like  that  of  an  Apache,  the  Kentuckian 
sprang  towards  the  nearest  rebel ;  but  the  latter  went  out 
the  window  head  first,  landing  in  the  garden. 

"  Whoop  !     Wake,  snakes,  and  give  'em  ginger !  " 

The  crazy-headed  man  made  a  rush  for  a  second  rebel 
—  a  fat,  pursy,  wheezy  li ttle  man,  bald-headed  and  near- 
sighted. 

The  little  man  had  but  a  moment  before  declared  that 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  197 

a  warrior's  death  was  the  death  he  preferred  to  all  others  • 
and  he  had  intimated,  glass  in  hand,  that  he  should  like  to 
die  several  times  for  the  benefit  of  the  Sunny  South. 

When  the  man  whom  Bowmount  first  attacked  bolted 
from  the  room  head  first,  the  little  greasy,  fLt  fellow  had 
looked  upon  the  whole  thing  as  a  good  joke,  and  had 
laughed  until  his  sides  shook  like  a  jelly ;  but  the  noise 
which  he  made  attracted  the  Kentuckian's  notice.  The 
fellow  had  better  have  shaken  a  red  cloth  in  the  eyes  of  a 
mad  bull  than  to  have  thus  called  down  upon  his  head  the 
wrath  of  that  drunken  man. 

"  Whoop  I  yaw  !  "  roared  the  madman  ;  and,  waving 
a  heavy  champagne-bottle  in  his  right  hand,  charged 
ferociously  upon  the  little  bald-headed  genius. 

"  Run,  little  one,"  I  yelled,  fearful  that  the  man  would 
be  brained  and  killed. 

He  started  from  the  table  at  which  he  had  been  seated, 
and  gazed  with  dismay  at  the  Kentuckian.  He  seemed 
incapable  of  moving,  appearing  as  one  fascinated  with 
the  wicked  eyes  of  a  serpent. 

"  Run,  you  blamed  fool!"  some  one  shouted  to  him. 

But  the  warning  was  not  heeded. 

On  went  the  Kentuckian,  uttering  powerful  whoops  and 
fells. 

"  Jump  out  of  the  window,"  I  said. 

But  the  words  were  not  noticed. 

"  Wake,  snakes;  for  you  is  wanted,"  howled  Bowmount. 

Raising  his  bottle  as  he  spoke,  in  a  moment  more  it 
Would  have  fallen,  and  perhaps  crushed  the  skull  of  the 
little  rebel.  But  luck  favored  the  man  who  desired  to 
Cde  on  the  field  of  battle.  His  legs,  stout  and  fat  as  they 
were,  gave  way  beneath  the  load  that  pressed  them  down, 
and  his  whole  person  collapsed,  and  went  under  the  table, 
as  though  struck  down  by  a  flash  of  lightning.  As  the 
little  fellow  fell,  he  also  overturned  the  table,  —  a  marble- 


198  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

topped  one,  —  and,  as  it  fell,  struck  the  Kentuckian's 
toes,  skinned  his  shins,  and  finally  tripped  him  up,  fall- 
ing headlong,  and  carrying  with  him  to  the  floor  half  a 
dozen  of  the  confeds  who  were  near. 

"  '  Now  I  lay  me  down  to  sleep  ! ' "  cried  the  little  fat 
man  as  he  arose,  repeating  portions  of  the  first  prayer  that 
came  to  his  mind.  "  '  May  all  good  angels  guard  me  and 
mine  evermore  ! '  Hang  such  a  man.  He's  drunk.  Take 
him  off.  Save  me.  Glory  to  the  Highest.  Good  lu^k 
about  that  table,  now  I  tell  you.  Kill  him,  some  of  you. 
He's  a  pretty  Southerner.  Bah !  " 

With  these  words  and  this  salutation,  the  fat  man  rushed 
from  the  room,  and  sought  that  quiet  in  his  chamber  he 
could  not  find  in  the  bar-room. 

"  He's  a  disgrace  to  the  house,  and  should  be  made  to 
leave  it,"  said  some  one  —  a  testy  old  gentleman  who 
didn't  understand  such  Kentucky  fun. 

Bowmount  heard  this  remark  as  he  raised  his  battered 
form  from  the  floor. 

"  I'll  teach  you  civility,  you  mean  old  fool!  "  roared  the 
rash  man. 

Grasping  his  bottle,  he  prepared  for  another  rush  ;  but 
the  children  of  the  Sunny  South  did  not  wait  for  the 
charge.  They  turned  and  fled  as  though  they  feared 
broken  heads  and  bloody  noses  ;  and  in  a  few  moments  no 
one  remained  in  the  room  but  the  Kentuckian,  the  bar- 
keeper, and  myself. 

As  soon  as  the  room  was  cleared,  the  Kentuckian  brushed 
the  coarse  hair  from  his  eyes,  and  gazed  around  like  a  wild 
Dull  that  had  been  maddened  and  baffled. 

"  Confusion  !  "  he  said,  with  a  sort  of  sob.  "  To  think 
that  out  of  ten  men  not  one  of  'em  would  stand  before 
me  even  for  a  minute  !  This  is  hard  luck,  hard  luck.  It's 
not  so  in  old  Kaintuck.  Thar,  if  you  make  a  motion  or 
even  p'int  a  finger  at  a  feller,  he  11  strip  for  a  fight.  Ah  ! 
I  long  for  the  old  tunes  and  the  old  State." 


BOWMOHSTT  EXPLAINS.— Page  19T. 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  199 

I  saw  that  it  was  useless  to  argue  with  him  ;  so,  making 
an  excuse  to  get  him  to  his  room,  I  left  him  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  a  nap,  while  I  hurried  to  my  apartment,  and 
wrote  a  letter  to  Captain  Switchell,  asking  for  twenty 
reliable  men  —  sober  fellows,  who  would  obey  all  orders 
and  not  ask  a  question.  They  were  to  land  in  the  course 
of  the  day,  and  report  to  Harry,  or  old  Ben,  on  the  beach, 
one  at  a  time,  and  there  receive  instructions. 

After  writing  the  note,  I  hurried  out,  and  found  the 
midshipman,  who  was  waiting  most  patiently  for  me,  ana 
who  promised  to  see  that  Captain  Switchell  received  the 
letter  in  the  course  of  an  hour  or  two.  I  then  explained 
to  Harry  my  plans  for  the  capture  of  the  Spitfire  ;  and  the 
lad  was  kind  enough  to  say  that  he  was  delighted  with 
them,  and  thought  they  would  succeed. 

"  Very  well,"  I  answered.  "  Be  on  hand  promptly  this 
evening,  and  we  will  make  an  attempt  even  if  it  fails." 

I  turned  away,  and  through  the  trees  caught  sight  of 
Colonel  Rhett  and  his  daughter  sauntering  in  the  shade. 

I  pushed  Harry  behind  a  thicket  of  bushes,  and  waited 
for  the  Virginians  to  pass ;  for  I  did  not  want  them  to  see 
me  just  at  that  moment  in  company  with  the  middy. 

Colonel  Rhett  and  his  lovely  daughter  appeared  to  be 
engaged  in  an  earnest  conversation,  so  that  Harry  and  I 
had  no  trouble  in  secreting  ourselves.  They  did  not 
notice  us,  or  appear  aware  that  we  were  near. 

They  were  soon  lost  to  view  in  the  shadows  of  the  trees 
and  shrubbery.  The  young  midshipman  and  myself  then 
stole  from  our  place  of  concealment,  and  walked  in  an 
opposite  direction. 

"  Faith,  she  is  a  pretty  one,"  said  Harry. 

"In  fact,"  continued  the  good-looking  youngster,  "she 
reminds  me  of  my  Boston  cousin  —  one  of  the  hand- 
somest girls  that  ever  walked  Washington  Street." 

"Indeed?     Who  is  she?" 
14 


200  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  O  I  no  one  that  you  ever  heard  of,"  was  the  carelesa 
answer. 

"  Perhaps  not,;'  I  insisted ;  "  but  tell  me  her  name." 

"  Hatty  Blank." 

"Hatty  Blank?" 

"Yes,  sir — the  daughter  of  my  uncle  Pemberton  Blank, 
a  wealthy  and  aristocratic  East  India  merchant." 

"  Is  it  possible  that  that  young  lady  is  your  cousin  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.     Did  you  ever  see  her?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Isn't  she  a  stunner  for  good  looks  ?  Did  you  ever  see 
a  clipper  that  would  equal  her  for  all  that's  neat  and  taunt, 
alow  and  aloft  ?  '' 

"She  is  a  lady,  and  a  very  beautiful  one.  In  fact,  it  is 
seldom  we  meet  with  a  more  lovely  face." 

I  spoke  in  a  warm  tone ;  for  I  recollected  that  I  carried 
the  young  lady's  photograph  near  my  heart,  and  that  her 
bright  face  and  coquettish  airs  were  still  as  fresh  in  my 
mind  as  the  day  I  saved  her  from  insult  on  Pennsylvania 
Avenue,  in  Washington. 

Just  at  that  moment  I  heard  footsteps  on  the  gravel 
walk.  We  dodged  behind  some  bushes,  and  waited  to  see 
who  the  stranger  was.  In  a  few  seconds  the  pursy  form 
of  Captain  Switchell,  of  the  Stingeree,  approached.  He 
was  mopping  his  face  with  his  pocket-handkerchief,  and 
growling  audibly  at  some  subject  that  lay  on  his  mind. 

"  Captain,  you  are  just  the  one  I  want  to  see,"  I  said,  as 
I  stepped  from  the  bushes. 

Captain  Switchell,  who  entertained  an  idea  that  Nassau 
contained  more  pirates  and  robbers  to  the  square  foot  than 
any  country  unc^er  the  sun,  started,  and  laid  his  hand  on  a 
revolver,  under  the  impression  that  murder  was  con- 
templated ;  but,  as  soon  as  he  saw  my  face,  his  features 
relaxed  their  scowl,  and  good-nature  appeared. 

"  Hang  me,"  he  said,  "if  I  didn't  think  that  you  was 
after  cotton,  and  the  gold  lace  on  my  coat." 


RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE.  201 

"  Can  you  spare  me  a  word,  captain  ?  "  I  asked. 

"Yes  —  a  dozen  of  them.  Only  be  lively;  for  the 
scoundrels  have  ordered  me  off." 

We  withdrew  to  the  shade,  and  then  I  laid  my  plans 
before  the  captain  for  the  capture  of  the  Spitfire.  Cap- 
tain Switchell  bit  his  thumbs  while  I  was  relating  the 
plans,  and  at  last  he  exclaimed,  — 

"  Blast  it,  you  know  that  it  is  clear  agin  national  law." 

"  Who  ever  heard  of  law  when  capturing  or  breaking 
up  a  nest  of  pirates  ?  " 

"  I  know  all  that ;  but,  darn  it !  the  thing  might  be 
brought  home  to  me,  and  then  I'd  be  broken  as  sure  as 
fate." 

"  But  there  is  no  need  of  it.  I  assume  the  whole 
responsibility.  Give  twenty  of  your  men  a  chance  to 
leave  the  ship  for  a  few  days,  and  no  questions  asked. 
You  need  to  know  but  little  of  the  matter ;  but,  after  the 
Spitfire  is  outside,  your  trouble  is  over.  Take  her  three 
leagues  from  land,  and  what  a  prize  you  will  have  !  and 
no  other  ship  to  share  it." 

"  How  my  wife  and  daughter  would  rejoice  to  see  me 
rolling  the  shot  into  my  locker ! "  remarked  Captain 
Switchell,  his  eyes  protruding  at  the  anticipation. 

"  Of  course  they  would.  Why  should  they  not  rejoice 
at  your  prosperity  ?  If  you  have  fair  treatment  by  the 
prize  courts,  you  can  count  on  ten  or  twenty  thousand 
dollars  as  your  share  of  the  Spitfire." 

"  Hang  it !  you  know  it  is  a  little  irregular.  We  are  in 
a  neutral  port." 

"  Yes  ;  and  see  how  they  show  their  neutrality,  by 
ordering  you  to  leave  the  harbor  in  twenty-four  hours 
after  you  have  arrived." 

'"  Blast  'em  !  "  muttered  the  captain.  "  A  set  of  bloody 
pirates  as  ever  lived.  The  whole  bloody  place  had  ought 
to  be  sunk  in  the  ocean." 


202  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  Then  you'll  lend  me  the  men  ?  " 

»•  Xo ;  I'll  do  nothing  about  it." 

I  looked  my  disappointment ;  but  the  captain  winked 
with  one  of  his  pig-like  eyes,  as  he  added,  — 

••  No  ;  I'll  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  affair.  But  I'll 
just  hint  to  Mr.  Swivel  tlat  I  can  spare  him  and  some 
twenty  of  the  best  and  most  reliable  men  in  the  ship.  He 
can  take  the  hint  or  not ;  but  from  what  I  know  of  the 
man,  I  rather  think  he  will." 

**  We  shall  want  an  assistant  engineer  to  start  the 
engines  in  case  we  don't  find  one  on  board." 

"  Well,  I'll  hint  as  much  to  Mr.  Swivel.  He's  a  sly 
old  fox,  and  won't  miss  a  chance  if  he  can  help  it," 

And  with  these  words  we  parted  company,  —  the  cap- 
tain bolting  in  one  direction,  while  Harry  and  I  drifted  in 
another. 

"  Now,  my  lad,"  I  said,  when  we  had  stood  on  one  tack 
as  long  as  we  thought  proper,  "  we  must  part  company 
for  the  present.  I  will  meet  you  on  the  beach  to-night : 
or  if  anything  of  importance  occurs  between  now  and 
then,  let  me  know.  Come  to  the  hotel  in  your  charactei 
of  an  Englishman,  and  speak  to  me." 

There  was  the  sound  of  more  footsteps  on  the  gravel 
Harry  heard  them,  drew  his  cap  over  his  eyes,  and  scam- 
pered off  towards  the  harbor,  while  I  sauntered  towards 
the  hotel,  yet  in  the  direction  of  the  approaching  intruder. 

"  Hollo,  Barnwell !  " 

The  Kentuckian  stood  before  me  as  sober  as  on  the  day 
he  was  born ;  and  yet  I  had  left  him,  two  hours  before, 
half  crazy  drunk,  and  lying  on  his  bed  with  a  prospect  of 
having  a  long  nap.  I  saw,  though,  what  had  sobered  him. 
His  dripping  hair  and  damp  shirt  collar  showed  that  he  had 
dipped  his  head  into  a  pail  of  iced  water,  and  kept  it  there 
until  the  liquor  had  been  driven  from  his  brains  —  a  re- 
sult obtained  through  a  species  of  strangulation  that  waa 
emphatically  Kentuckian  in  its  nature. 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  203 

"  I  thought  you  were  asleep,"  I  remarked,  as  soon  as  I 
could  recover  from  my  surprise  at  seeing  the  man. 

"  Asleep  ?  What  made  you  think  that  ?  What  do  I 
want  to  go  to  sleep  for  at  this  time  of  the  day  ?  " 

"  O  !  "  I  laughed  ;  "  I  didn't  know  but  you  would  be 
tired." 

"  Shucks !  I've  other  things  to  think  of  jest  at  this 
time." 

"  What  occupies  your  thoughts  that  is  of  so  much  im- 
portance ?  " 

-'  Well,  I've  been  tryin'  to  make  it  out  whar  I've  seei 
that  woman's  face." 

"  What  woman  ?  " 

"  Why,  the   Georgia  woman  —  that  'ere  Mrs.  Gowen." 

"  And  have  you  solved  the  difficulty  ?  " 

"  I  think  I  has." 

"  Will  you  give  me  the  information  ?  although,  for  that 
matter,  I  know  all  about  her." 

"  O  !  you  does,  hey  ?  Well,  then,  'tain't  much  use  to 
tell  you  all  I  knows  ;  so  I'll  keep  quiet  for  the  present. 
Besides,  I  ain't  certain,  arter  all,  that  I'm  jest  right." 

In  spite  of  all  that  I  could  say,  the  Kentuckian  would 
not  open  his  lips  to  answer  my  question  ;  so  in  silence 
we  returned  to  the  hotel,  and  separated  to  dress  for  din- 
ner, which  took  place  at  five  o'clock. 


204  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

A  SUDDEN  ATTACK.  — A  BESCUE.  — "ON  BOARD  THE  SPIT- 
FIRE.—  A  CAPTURE. — JOHN  BULL  MAKES  A  DISCOV- 
ERY. —  A  CHASE.  —  A  RECOGNITION,  AND  WHAT  CAME 
OF  IT. 

IN  consequence  of  the  disturbance  that  had  occurred 
during  the  day,  the  tables  were  far  from  being  crowded, 
some  of  the  brave  Southern  exiles  preferring  to  take  their 
meals  in  their  own  rooms  to  appearing  in  the  public  hall, 
and  encountering  the  terrible  Kentuckian.  Miss  Rhett 
was  present,  as  fascinating  as  ever,  and  full  as  liberal  of 
her  smiles,  while  Mrs.  Gowen  appeared,  dressed  with 
exquisite  taste,  with  flowers  in  her  hair,  and  displaying  a 
pair  of  shoulders  that  were  faultless  in  their  proportions. 

She  gave  me  a  smile,  and  poor  crushed  Miss  Rhett  a 
frown,  and  then  applied  all  her  great  talent  to  the  task  of 
mastering  the  details  of  her  dinner,  which  I  noticed  she 
ate  with  great  relish,  while,  to  aid  digestion,  she  did  not 
scruple  to  pay  frequent  attention  to  a  bottle  of  iced  claret 
that  had  been  placed  at  her  right  hand. 

I  did  not  have  much  time  to  linger  over  the  dessert ; 
for  I  recollected  that  I  had  business  to  occupy  my  atten- 
tion ;  so,  as  soon  as  possible,  I  left  the  table  ;  but,  as  I 
looked  back  I  saw  that  Miss  Rhett  and  Mrs.  Gowen  had 
their  eyes  on  me,  as  though  suspicious  of  my  movements. 

At  the  bar  I  shook  off  Bowmount,  having  first  enticed 
him  to  enter  into  a  discussion  with  an  English  officer  on 
the  relative  positions  of  the  North  and  South.  I  knew 
that  he  would  talk,  smoke,  and  drink  all  night  if  any  one 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  205 

would  keep  him  company ;  so  I  felt  sure  that  he  would 
not  interfere  in  my  movements ;  but  just  as  I  was  passing 
down  the  entrance  steps,  who  should  come  forward,  and 
put  his  arm  through  mine,  but  that  abominable  wretch, 
Colonel  Rhett ! 

"  I  am  so  glad  to  have  company  for  an  evening  walk !  " 
the  man  said,  not  taking  the  least  notice  of  my  expres- 
sion of  disgust.  "  Gently,  my  friend,"  he  continued  ;  for 
I  had  hoped  to  shake  him  off  by  a  little  rudeness.  "  You 
forget  that  I  am  lame.  That  Bull  Run  wound  will  follow 
me  to  the  grave." 

We  walked  on  for  a  moment  or  two  in  silence.  At 
length  I  asked,  — 

"  Have  you  any  particular  business  with  me,  Colonel 
Rhett?" 

"  No  ;  I  don't  think  I  have." 

"  Will  you  walk  by  yourself,  and  release  my  arm  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  if  you  wish  it." 

But  still  he  retained  his  hold  on  my  arm,  and  walked 
along  with  me  in  the  most  composed  and  confidential 
manner. 

"  Colonel,"  I  said  at  length,  in  an  abrupt  manner,  "  who 
in  the  fiend's  name  are  you  ?  " 

"  Colonel  Rhett,  at  your  service,  sir." 

We  walked  on  in  silence  towards  the  beach,  where  I 
was  to  meet  Harry  and  some  of  the  men  from  the  Stin- 
geree.  The  shades  of  evening  began  to  fall,  and  conceal 
objects  that  were  close  to  us ;  yet  still  the  colonel  stuck 
close  to  me,  and  I  began  to  suspect  a  second  abduction, 
so  kept  my  eyes  open,  and  watched  all  the  fellow's  move- 
ments. 

At  last  I  saw  Harry  and  two  sailors  standing  near  an 
overturned  boat  on  the  beach ;  so  I  strolled  towards  them, 
and  yet  appeared  to  take  no  notice  of  the  party. 

Still  the  colonel  clung  to  my  arm,  and  manifested  no 


206  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

intention   of  relinquishing  it.     I   began   tc  get  nervous 
and  angry,  wishing  the  man  to  the  devil. 

"  Have  you  an  appointment  with  anyone  here  ?  "  I  asked. 

;       "NO." 

"  Then  you  had  better  run  home,  and  take  care  of  youi 
health.  The  dew  is  faUing  fast." 

"  I  don't  fear  it,  and  I  like  your  company  too  well  to 
part  just  at  the  present  time.  See ;  isn't  one  of  the 
steamers  firing  up  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  I  think  so." 

Just  at  that  moment,  four  men  strolled  past  us.  The 
colonel  gave  them  a  keen  glance,  and  then  cried,  in  a  tone 
that  was  intended  to  attract  attention,  — 

"  If  she  is  firing  up,  it  is  full  time." 

The  men  stopped,  hesitated  for  a  moment,  and  then 
came  towards  us. 

"  Yes,"  cried  the  colonel,  in  a  peculiar  tone,  and  with  a 
little  manifestation  of  impatience.  "It  is  full  time,  for 
the  steam  is  up." 

The  men  continued  to  edge  towards  us. 

"  What  in  the  fiend's  name  is  the  matter  with  you  ?  "  I 
asked  the  colonel.  "  Can't  you  keep  still  for  a  few  mo- 
ments ?" 

"  My  wound,"  he  said,  "  troubles  me.  Let  me  lean  on 
you  a  little  heavier." 

He  clasped  my  right  arm  so  tight  that  I  began  to  sus- 
pect the  old  fellow  had  more  strength  than  I  had  given 
him  credit  for. 

"  What  are  you  about  ?  "  I  asked.     "  Let  go  your  hold." 

"  I  can't,  for  it  is  time,"  he  answered  in  a  loud  tone, 
clinging  to  my  arm  with  renewed  energy. 

Just  at  that  moment  the  four  men  who  had  been  edging 
towards  us  made  a  rush,  and  almost  before  I  was  aware 
of  the  fact,  I  found  that  they  had  piled  on  to  me.  One 
big  fellow  seized  me  by  the  throat,  seeming  determined  to 


RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE.  207 

choke  the  life  out  of  me,  while  the  hero  of  Bull  Run 
made  vigorous  efforts  to  thrust  something  into  my  mouth 
to  prevent  my  calling  for  help,  at  the  same  time  clinging 
to  my  arm  as  though  he  was  drowning,  and  needed  con- 
siderable assistance. 

I  struggled  desperately  ;  but  five  to  one,  all  strong 
men,  tells  in  a  short  brush  ;  so  was  not  surprised  when 
I  found  that  the  assailants  had  lifted  me  from  my  feet, 
and  were  throwing  me  to  the  ground,  so  that  they  could 
handle  me  to  greater  advantage.  But  by  a  mighty  effort 
I  freed  one  of  my  feet  from  an  embrace,  and  with  a  force 
that  must  have  told,  planted  it  in  the  colonel's  stomach, 
just  below  his  digestive  organs. 

"  O  !  "  he  yelled,  releasing  his  hold,  and  placing  both 
hands  where  my  heel  had  struck  ;  and  he  did  this  while 
sailing  stern  first,  like  a  Dutch  droger. 

But  the  others  did  not  let  me  up ;  and  although  I  struck 
to  the  right  and  left,  and  inflicted  some  hard  blows,  draw- 
ing blood  and  curses  at  the  same  time,  the  four  men  go'j 
the  better  of  me,  and  down  upon  the  soft  sand  I  was 
thrown.  Then  I  thought  it  full  time  to  use  my  voice,  or 
what  there  was  left  of  it. 

I  shook  the  man's  paw  from  my  mouth,  and  shouted,  — 

"  Harry  !  to  the  rescue !  " 

"Away,  boys!  away!"  the  lad  shouted,  dashing 
towards  me,  followed  by  two  of  the  Stingerees,  old  Ben 
being  of  the  number. 

They  had  been  watching  the  struggle  since  its  com- 
mencement, and  awaited  orders.  They  supposed  me  to 
be  indulging  in  a  little  skylarking  with  some  of  my 
friends,  and  had  no  idea  that  the  affair  was  serious  until 
they  heard  me  call  for  assistance. 

"  Board  the  bloody  pirates  !  "  roared  old  Ben,  the  mas- 
ter's mate.  * 

And  then  down  upon  the  scamps  they  came,  and  in  BO 


208  RUNNING    THE    BLOCKADE. 

ferocious  a  mood  that  the  ruffians  were  compelled  to  drop 
me,  and  look  after  their  own  heads,  in  spite  of  the  old 
colonel's  command  to  hold  on  to  me  at  all  hazards. 

"Whack!"  I  heard  somebody  hit;  and  over  went 
one  of  the  pirates, — a  slung-shot  in  the  hands  of  the 
master's  mate  producing  the  result. 

"Down  with  'em  !  "  yelled  Harry,  making  a  spring  at 
the  biggest  of  the  party. 

But  the  fellow  dodged,  and  ran  like  a  hound,  the  middy 
after  him.  In  the  mean  time,  the  rest  of  us  were  not  idle. 
We  had  pitched  in  to  the  right  and  left,  and  soon  finished 
the  remaining  assailants  ;  and  then  I  had  time  to  turn 
my  attention  to  the  Virginia  colonel. 

The  old  fellow  had  seen  how  the  battle  ended,  and  was 
endeavoring  to  creep  off  on  his  hands  and  knees  ;  but 
when  he  found  that  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  escape, 
stopped,  and  raised  a  new  cry. 

"  Give  it  to  'em,  Barnwell,"  he  said.  "  Don't  let  'em 
up.  They  begun  it,  and  must  suffer  the  consequences." 

"  Why,  you  old  traitor,"  I  exclaimed,  "  what  do  you 
mean  by  such  conduct?" 

"  Yes,"  the  old  rascal  whined.  "  It's  mean  enough  the 
way  they  used  you.  If  I  hadn't  lost  my  foothold,  I  think 
we  two  would  have  beaten  them  off;  don't  you  ?  " 

As  he  spoke,  he  attempted  to  get  upon  his  feet ;  but 
just  as  he  was  in  a  proper  position,  half  stooping  and  half 
standing,  I  raised  my  foot,  and  gave  him  a  most  unmerci- 
ful kick  on  a  not  over  sensitive  part  of  his  body. 

He  went  forward  with  a  lurch,  like  a  foundering  ship 
in  a  heavy  sea,  and  once  more  stretched  his  full  length 
upon  the  sand.  I  left  him,  and  went  to  the  scene  of  the 
conflict  to  look  over  the  list  of  killed  and  wounded. 

By  this  time  Harry  had  returned,  flushed  with  the  exer- 
cise of  running. 

"  It  is  time  that  we  were  on  the  way  to  the  shipping 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  209 

office,"  whispered  Harry.  "  Some  of  our  fellows  must  be 
there  already.  We  must  hurry  up,  or  we  shall  lose  the 
trick." 

"  But  what  shall  we  do  with  these  loafers  ?  "  growled 
Ben,  pointing  to  two  of  the  insensible  pirates,  whose  heads 
had  suffered  from  the  effect  of  a  slung-shot. 

"  Let  them  alone,  and  regain  their  senses  the  best 
way  they  can,"  I  replied.  "  But  as  for  the  leader  in  this 
affair,  we  will  take  precious  good  care  that  he  does 
not  trouble  us  for  the  third  time.  Come  and  look  at 
him." 

We  went  to  the  spot  where  I  had  left  the  colonel 
insensible;  but  he  must  have  regained  his  senses  very 
soon  after  I  departed ;  for  the  old  wretch  had  dis- 
appeared, and  no  trace  of  him  could  be  found.  We 
spent  ten  minutes  looking  over  the  beach,  in  hope  of 
running  the  fellow  down,  but  found  that  it  was  a  waste 
of  time. 

"  It  is  useless  to  look  for  the  old  rat,"  I  said,  when  the 
men  returned  from  their  unsuccessful  search.  "  He  is 
housed  long  before  this.  Now  for  the  shipping-office." 

"  And  here  is  something  to  make  a  tar  of  you,"  Harry 
cried,  stopping  by  a  boat  that  was  overturned  on  the 
beach,  and  producing  a  blue  shirt  and  a  pair  of  duck 
pants.  "  I  suppose  we  must  keep  up  appearances.  You 
can  leave  your  shore  toggery  here  till  such  time  as  you 
want  to  resume  it." 

In  a  few  minutes  I  was  dressed  as  a  sailor  ;  and  then 
away  we  rolled  towards  Bucknor's  shipping-office,  where 
we  saw  some  twenty  men  lounging  about  the  door,  as 
though  awaiting  the  arrival  of  some  one. 

On  inquiry,  we  found  that  Captain  Duncan  of  the  Spit- 
fire had  not  yet  arrived  ;  but  almost  before  the  information 
was  imparted  to  us,  the  master  made  his  appearance  ;  and 
to  my  great  satisfaction,  saw  that  he  had  been  dining, 


210  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

and  had  drank  more  wine  than  was  wholesome  for  a  man 
about  to  sail. 

"Well,  b'ys,"  said  Duncan,  with  a  strong  Scotch 
accent,  "  ye  want  to  ship  in  the  Spitfire  —  do  ye  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  the  Stingerees  with  one  accord. 

As  they  spoke,  they  commenced  working  in  pairs 
towards  the  master,  so  that  those  not  in  the  secret  would 
be  pushed  to  the  rear,  and  stand  but  a  poor  chance  to  be 
shipped. 

"  An'  ye  dinna  ken  where  ye  is  to  go  ? "  asked  the 
master. 

'*  No,  sir,"  was  the  blunt  answer,  "  and  don't  care." 

"  Faith,  then  ye  is  the  b'ys  for  me  ;  so  come  in,  and  I'll 
take  twenty  of  ye.  And  be  lively  about  it ;  for  we  must 
be  in  blue  water  afore  light  in  the  rnornin'." 

We  crowded  into  the  office,  and  had  the  shipping-papers 
laid  before  us.  By  shrewd  management,  we  succeeded  in 
keeping  from  the  documents  all  those  who  were  not  in  the 
secret ;  but  while  Ben  was  looking  out  for  this,  we  found 
that  the  required  twenty  sailors  were  booked,  and  Ben 
was  not  among  the  number. 

"  There,  men,"  said  Captain  Duncan,  "  I  have  all  I 
want.  Now  cut  stick  for  the  ship  as  soon  as  ye  loike." 

"  But,"  cried  Harry,  as  ready  with  a  yarn  as  midship- 
men usually  are,  "  here's  a  man  that  must  go.  He's  my 
uncle,  and  a  better  sailor  or  gunner  never  walked  a  ship's 
deck." 

He  pushed  Ben  towards  the  table  to  attract  the  cap- 
tain's notice. 

"  I  ha'  enough,"  was  the  master's  answer ;  "  an'  ye  ken, 
my  boy,  that  enough  is  as  good  as  a  feast." 

"  But  he's  a  thorough-built  sailor,"  pleaded  Harry. 

"  There's  but  little' for  a  sailor  to  do  on  board  the  Spit- 
fire." 

"  But  there's  no  gunner  in  the  harbor  that  can  compare 
with  him.  He  served  ten  vears  in  the  English  navy." 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  211 

"  That's  somethin'  in  his  favor,"  muttered  the  master. 
K  Would  ye  be  feared,"  he  continued,  addressing  Ben,  "  to 
crack  at  one  of  the  Yankee  gunboats  ?  " 

"  I  should  think  not,"  chuckled  Ben.  "  Jist  give  me  a 
chance,  and  you'll  see." 

"  Then  I'll  take  ye,"  said  the  captain  ;  "  for  there's  no 
knowin'  what  may  happen.  Can  ye  write  yer  name  ?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

Most  all  of  the  men  had  confessed  that  they  were 
unable  to  sign  their  names,  so  that  they  could  the  better 
sustain  the  characters  they  had  assumed  ;  for  it  is  well 
.known  that  many  of  the  great  mass  of  foreign  sailors 
cannot  read  or  write,  owing  to  a  defective  education. 

Ben  put  his  fingers  to  the  pen,  after  the  master  had 
made  a  mark  ;  and  then  we  were  informed  that  we  must 
go  on  board  immediately,  as  the  steamer  was  to  sail  in  an 
hour  or  two,  and  off  we  went. 

We  were  pulled  to  the  Spitfire,  and  mounted  the  lead- 
colored  sides.  At  the  gangway  we  were  received  by  the 
mate  — a  burly  Englishman,  who  had  been  drinking  quite 
freely  ;  wishing  success  to  the  voyage,  probably. 

The  man  had  drank  too  much  to  notice  that  we  had 
but  little  dunnage  ;  so  we  went  to  the  forecastle,  where 
we  found  some  eight  or  ten  dirty  fellows  —  a  cross  be- 
tween coal-heavers  and  deck  hands,  without  the  generous 
characteristics  and  neatness  of  sailors. 

They  did  not  welcome  us,  or  show  the  least  sign  of 
pleasure  at  our  appearance.  They  sat  on  their  chests,  and 
smoked  their  dirty  black  pipes,  and  drank  some  grog  that 
they  had  managed  to  get  hold  of,  without  asking  us  to 
freshen  our  nips,  or  to  share  the  forecastle,  like  good  mess- 
mates. In  fact,  but  one  of  them  spoke  to  us  ;  and  he  was 
black  and  filthy  enough  for  a  Jordey. 

"  Ah !  "  he  muttered,  "  where  does  all  of  these  'ere 
South  Spain  boggies  come  from,  —  a  tumbling  in  here  as 
if  they  owned  the  ship  ?  " 


212  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  Where  do  we  come  from  ?  "  repeated  one  of  the  crew 
of  the  Stingeree  —  a  splendid  specimen  of  a  sailor,  broad- 
shouldered  and  stout  as  Hercules.  "  We  come  from  the 
shore.  Where  the  deuce  do  you  think  we  come  from  ? 
Hey?" 

He  struck  the  fellow,  as  he  spoke,  on  the  back  with 
the  flat  of  his  hand,  intended  as  an  introduction  ;  but  the 
blow  was  so  severe  that  the  Jordey  was  almost  knocked 
off  his  chest. 

"Look  you,  don't  do  that 'ere,"  cried  the  dirty-look- 
ing fellow,  as  he  righted  himself.  "  If  ye  does,  we'll  ha' 
a  fight." 

"  Will  we  ?  "  asked  Hercules  ;  and  with  the  utmost 
coolness  he  reached  over,  seized  the  black  bottle  that  con- 
tained the  grog,  put  it  to  his  mouth,  took  a  long  swig,  and 
then  passed  it  over  to  his  shipmates,  who  helped  them- 
selves, and  returned  the  empty  bottle  to  the  Jordey,  who 
sat  sullen  and  silent,  not  daring  to  make  an  effort  to  secure 
the  liquor  from  the  hands  that  had  taken  it. 

Just  at  this  moment  Harry  whispered  to  me,  — 

"  The  Stiugeree  is  under  way,  and  poking  her  nose  out 
of  the  harbor.  Shall  I  make  a  signal  that  thus  far  all  is 
right?" 

"  Yes ;  but  be  careful  how  you  manage  it." 

"  AU  right,  sir." 

Karry  went  on  deck,  where  I  followed  him,  leaving 
the  men  to  pick  out  the  bunks  which  each  required,  and 
make  a  great  show  of  stowing  away  their  clothes. 

I  found  that  the  engineers  were  getting  up  steam  on  the 
Spitfire.  I  looked  into  the  engine-room,  and  saw  half  a 
dozen  coal-heavers  stripped  to  the  waist,  and  heard  an 
officer,  apparently  half  drunk,  giving  orders  about  the 
machinery.  I  was  satisfied  that  we  should  not  encounter 
much  opposition  in  the  engine-room,  so  turned  away,  and 
found  Harry  in  the  bows  of  the  steamer. 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  213 

"  I  made  the  signal,"  he  whispered,  "  and  the  quarter- 
deck answered  it.  There's  anxious  hearts  on  board  the 
Stingeree  just  at  this  time.  The  captain  is  more  nervous 
than  ourselves,  I'll  warrant." 

"  Which  is  the  engineer  from  the  Stingeree  ?  "  I  asked. 
"  I  want  to  speak  with  him." 

"  I'll  bring  him  to  you.  His  name  is  Clark.  He's  the 
third  assistant,  and  a  thorough  smart  fellow.  He'll  make 
his  way  through  the  world  ;  for  he  knuws  all  about  a 
boiler  and  steam,  and  such  things,  and  thinks  more  of  his 
engines  than  he  does  of  the  hull  of  the  ship.  You  shall 
see  him." 

Harry  returned  to  the  forecastle,  and  came  back  with 
the  third  assistant  —  a  modest-looking  little  fellow,  with 
a  coal  smooch  over  his  eyes  as  a  designating  mark.  He 
was  full  of  pluck  and  ambition,  and  just  such  a  man  as  I 
needed. 

I  led  Mr.  Clark  and  Mr.  Reefpoint  into  the  very  eyes 
of  the  steamer,  so  that  no  one  should  hear  us  converse, 
and  then  asked  the  former  if  he  was  certain  that  he  could 
take  care  of  the  engines,  and  start  them  when  steam  was  up. 

"  If  the  engines  are  in  order,  I  can  take  full  charge  of 
them.  If  they  are  out  of  order,  which  is  not  at  all  proba- 
ble, I  can  put  them  in  order  if  you  will  give  me  time." 

"  That  is  something  that  I  cannot  do.  We  must  start 
to-night,  or  all  is  lost." 

"  Then  let  us  commence  operations  at  once,"  whispered 
Harry.  "  Steam  is  nearly  up,  and  it  is  past  ten  o'clock." 

I  took  a  brief  glance  over  the  harbor.  All  was  quiet. 
On  board  the  British  steam  sloop  of  war  Amazon,  the 
sentry  had  just  struck  five  bells,  and  all  the  blockade- 
runners  in  the  harbor  had  followed  suit.  The  last  boat 
had  left  our  ship,  ind  the  officers  but  waited  for  the  mas- 
ter to  come  on  board  to  give  the  orders  to  man  the  wind- 
lass. Most  of  the  crews  of  the  steamers  lying  near  us  had 


214  RUNNING   THE  BLOCKADE. 

gone  to  sleep,  after  several  noisy  fights,  the  effect  of  liquor 
and  liberty  combined ;  so  that  even  if  we  had  a  slight 
struggle,  it  would  attract  but  little  attention. 

"It  is  time,"  I  said.  "Pass  the  signal  to  Ben;  and 
then  we  will  go  aft,  and  operate  on  the  quarter-deck." 

Harry  went  to  the  house  door,  and  struck  three  distinct 
blows  with  a  handspike. 

"  It  is  time,"  he  said,  and  then  closed  the  door,  so 
that  no  noise  could  reach  the  after  part  of  the  steamer. 

Just  at  this  moment,  the  third  mate  came  forward  to 
call  the  hands  on  deck.  We  could  hear  the  struggle 
going  on  in  the  forecastle,  and  knew  that,  if  the  officer 
should  notice  it,  he  would  raise  an  alarm. 

As  the  mate  passed  the  foremast,  we  looked  at  each  other 
and  at  the  officer. 

"  It  is  time,"  I  said,  throwing  an  arm  around  the  mate's 
throat,  garroting  him  so  effectually  that  not  a  single  cry 
escaped  his  lips. 

Clark  and  Harry  lent  their  assistance  in  holding  the 
man  ;  and  when  we  judged  that  he  would  remain  quiet 
for  a  while,  we  laid  him  on  deck,  stuffed  some  oakum 
in  his  mouth,  arid  lashed  his  hands  behind  his  back  with 
stout  marlin.  We  had  no  more  than  concluded,  before 
one  of  the  crew  of  the  Spitfire  dashed  off  the  house 
door,  uttered  a  wild  yell  expressive  of  horror  and  fear, 
and  then  jumped  on  to  the  rail  of  the  ship,  and  went 
overboard. 

"  Confusion  !  "  I  muttered.  "  What  shall  we  do  now  ?  " 

"  Do  nothing,"  answered  Clark.  "  Keep  quiet,  and 
swear  that  the  man  is  drunk." 

The  noise  that  the  man  made  was  sufficient  to  attract 
attention  ;  so  we  were  not  surprised  at  hearing  the  chief 
mate  sing  out  from  the  quarter-deck,  — 

"  What's  that  row  there  for'ard  ?  " 

"  One  of  the  new  men  is  overboard,"  I  answered. 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  21* 

"  Is  he  boozy  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  The  blamed  fool !  Let  him  stay  there  till  he's  sober, 
lie  can  sink  or  swim,  just  which  he  likes." 

When  the  officer  had  arrived  at  this  state  of  feeling 
old  Ben  emerged  from  the  forecastle,  looking  as  anxious 
as  a  marine. 

"  Whar  is  he  ?  "  whispered  the  master's  mate,  referring 
to  the  fellow  who  was  in  the  water. 

"  Overboard." 

"  Glad  of  it.  Hope  the  fool  will  drown,  and  hanged 
to  him." 

"  What  did  you  let  him  escape  for  ?  " 

"  Cos  we  didn't  know  he  was  in  the  house.  He  was 
a  snoozin'  in  one  of  the  bunks  ;  and,  when  the  row  roused 
him,  he  makes  a  rouse,  and  dives  out,  and,  the  fust  we 
knowed  of  him,  he  was  a  turnin'  flukes,  and  pipin'  like  a 
landlubber." 

"  But  the  rest  of  the  men  are  secured,  are  they  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  they  is  all  flat  on  their  backs,  with  pieces  of 
their  shirts  stuffed  in  their  mouths,  and  their  hands  tied, 
and  their  eyes  lookiu'  wonderfully  astonished  at  the  treat- 
ment what  they  have  received." 

"  Now  let  us  make  all  secure  aft,"  I  said,  as  soon  as  Ben 
had  finished  his  yarn.  "  Call  up  the  men,  and  we  will 
proceed  to  work  at  once." 

The  men  came  on  deck  obedient  to  the  call,  and  then 
we  commenced  preparations  for  securing  the  first  and 
second  mates.  But,  just  as  we  were  going  aft,  the  sailor 
who  had  jumped  overboard,  and  who  was  swimming  for 
the  shore,  found  that  he  had  over-estimated  his  strength, 
and  that  he  needed  help  to  prevent  him  from  sinking  ;  so 
he  uttered  some  lusty  cries,  which  could  be  heard  all  over 
the  harbor,  and  which  caused  us  to  fear,  that,  unless  the 
salt  water  soon  filled  his  mouth,  our  plans  would  be  dis- 
covered, and  the  project  fail. 
15 


216  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

Even  the  mate  of  the  Spitfire  could  not  help  making  an 
effort  to  save  the  poor  fellow  ;  so  he  called  from  the 
quarter-deck,  — 

"  Jump  into  the  boat,  three  or  four  of  you,  and  pick 
that  man  up." 

"And  bring  him  on  board  to  have  him  blab,  hey?" 
muttered  Harry.  "  We  don't  see  it  that  way." 

We  made  no  answer  to  the  summons,  and  remained 
quiet. 

"  D'ye  hear  ?  "  roared  the  mate. 

"Yes." 

"  Then  move  lively ;  or  I'll  come  for'ard,  and  help 
you." 

The  second  mate  came  towards  us  ;  but  he  had  no  sooner 
passed  the  mainmast,  than  he  was  seized,  gagged,  and 
thrown  helplessly  upon  the  deck. 

Once  more  we  waited  patiently  the  next  move.  It  soon 
came.  The  chief  mate,  enraged  at  the  slowness  with 
which  his  orders  were  obeyed,  caane  forward,  swearing 
like  a  sturdy  Englishman. 

"  You  lazy  hounds  ! "  he  said,  "  I'll  start  you  with  a 
rope's-end  if  I  get  among  you.  I'll  stir  you  up  when  we 
git  in  blue  water ;  you  jest  see  if  I  don't." 

!<  Bah  !  " 

Some  one  uttered  the  bleat  in  mockery ;  and  it  was 
enough  to  drive  the  Englishman  mad.  To  be  bleated  at 
like  a  sheep  was  more  than  he  could  endure,  and  he  sprang 
angrily  towards  us  ;  but,  before  he  could  use  the  pin 
he  had  snatched  from  the  rail,  a  dozen  strong  hands  were 
laid  on  him,  and  the  man  was  a  prisoner  almost  before  he 
was  aware  of  what  had  happened  to  him. 

"I'll  murder  some  of  you  for  this,"  the  mate  muttered. 

But  these  were  the  last  words  he  uttered  for  some  time ; 
for,  as  he  opened  his  mouth,  a  quantity  of  oakum  was 
thrust  in,  and  his  speech  stopped. 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  217 

The  matt  s  limbs  were  lashed  together ;  and  then  he  and 
his  brother  officers  were  thrown  into  the  house,  and  two 
men  placed  as  guard  over  the  whole  part}7,  while  the  rest 
of  us  proceeded  aft  to  search  the  cabin,  and  the  engineer 
went  below  to  secure  the  firemen  and  those  who  had 
charge  of  the  machinery. 

All  this  was  accomplished  in  a  short  time,  and  the  vessel 
was  ours  —  unlawfully,  I  will  admit ;  for  we  had  no  lega] 
right  to  capture  even  a  pirate  in  Nassau ;  but  still,  right  or 
wrong,  we  had  possession  ;  and  that  was  something.  But 
hardly  had  we  congratulated  each  other  on  what  we  had 
accomplished,  before  we  heard  the  sound  of  oars  ;  and  the 
next  moment  a  boat  touched  the  side,  and  up  the  steps  came 
the  master  of  the  steamer,  followed  closely  by  some  half  a 
dozen  or  more  passengers. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  the  master,  speaking  to  the  passen- 
gers, "  the  stewards  will  show  you  your  state-rooms  in  case 
you  want  to  stow  away  your  traps.  We  shall  be  under 
way  in  half  an  hour.  Mr.  Fid,  is  the  steam  up  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  I  answered,  giving  as  beery  a  tone  to  my 
voice  as  possible,  in  imitation  of  the  mate. 

"  Then  man  the  windlass  immediately." 

The  passengers  had  entered  the  cabin,  following  two  of 
the  men,  who  represented  stewards,  the  night  being  so 
dark  that  it  was  impossible  to  distinguish  them  a  fathom 
distant. 

Mr.  Reefpoint  and  Ben  looked  to  me  for  thn  next  move. 
For  a  moment  I  hesitated,  but  the  next  I  gave  the  signal. 
The  master  of  the  steamer  had  turned  his  back  to  us,  and 
was  auout  to  enter  the  cabin,  when  an  arm  was  thrown 
around  his  neck,  and  strong  hands  seized  his  limbs.  He 
v/as  a  stout  fellow,  and  made  good  use  of  his  arms  ;  but 
numbers  were  too  much  for  him,  and  down  to  the  deck  he 
went,  uttering,  as  he  fell,  one  wild  cry  for  help.  Then  all 
was  silent. 


218         RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

"  What's  the  row  ?  "  asked  a  familiar  voice,  as  a  head 
was  protruded  through  the  open  cabin  door. 

It  was  my  old  friend  Colonel  Rhett,  with  whom  I  had  a 
long  score  to  settle.  The  treacherous  scoundrel  had  come 
on  board  with  the  master,  but  for  what  purpose  I  was  at 
a  loss  to  understand. 

"  What's  the  row  ?  "  repeated  the  colonel,  stepping  on 
deck. 

He  could  not  see  us  distinctly,  on  account  of  the  dark- 
ness, and  also  because  he  had  just  come  from  the  light. 
In  asking  the  question,  he  put  his  face  close  to  mine,  as 
though  determined  to  see  who  I  was.  It  was  not  my 
purpose  that  the  man  should  see  me  on  board  the  Spit- 
fire ;  so,  to  prevent  it  in  a  measure,  I  just  hit  him  on  one 
of  his  eyes  ;  and  down  he  went,  all  in  a  heap. 

"  Murder !  "  yelled  the  old  villain.  "  Mutiny!  murder !  " 

We  soon  had  the  fellow's  mouth  stuffed  with  oakum, 
and  his  hands  secured  behind  his  back  ;  and  we  were  none 
too  quick  in  doing  the  work  ;  for  hardly  had  we  stowed 
away  our  prisoners  in  the  cabin,  than  we  heard  the  long, 
steady  strokes  of  men-of-war  as  they  dipped  their  oars  in 
the  water,  and  urged  a  cutter  over  the  bay. 

"The  deuce!"  growled  old  Ben.  "Here's  a  prettj 
mess  of  fish  for  us  to  cook.  A  boat  from  that  old  John 
Bull  is  pulling  towards  us.  What  shall  we  do  ?  " 

"  Do  ? "  repeated  Harry,  with  the  boldness  of  a  lion. 
"Why,  tako  'em  prisoners,  and  carry  'em  to  sea.  That's 
what  we  can  do." 

"  That's  spoken  like  a  boy,"  said  the  old  salt,  with  a 
sneer.  "  No  able  seaman  would  give  such  advice  as 
that." 

"  I  give  such  advice  as  I  think  would  be  beneficial  in 
an  emergency  like  this,''  ciied  the  midshipman,  with  a 
haughty  gesture. 

Old  Ben  was  about  to  make  a  cutting  remark  ;  but  I 
stopped  him. 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  219 

*'  Avast,"  I  said.  "  This  is  no  time  for  yarning.  All 
now  depends  on  coolness.  A  single  mistake,  and  we  are 
lost." 

"  Give  your  orders,  sir,  and  we  is  ready  to  obey  'em," 
remarked  Ben,  with  a  snap  of  his  strong  teeth  through  a 
plug  of  tobacco. 

I  glanced  over  the  rail,  and  saw  that  an  eight-oared 
cutter  was  near  us,  and  bound  to  come  alongside.  An 
officer  had  undoubtedly  been  sent  to  the  Spitfire  to  investi- 
gate the  cause  of  the  loud  cries  which  had  been  heard  all 
over  the  harbor. 

"  There  is  no  occasion  for  alarm,"  I  said  to  my  subordi- 
nates. "  The  ship  is  not  yet  lost,  and  will  not  be  if  you 
keep  your  weather  eyes  open.  Go  forward,  Harry,  and 
see  that  the  men  man  the  windlass.  Ben,  look  to  the 
cabin,  and  the  prisoners  there.  Tell  those  who  are 
stationed  over  them  to  crack  their  skulls  if  the  least  noise 
is  made.  All  must  be  quiet,  although  I  don't  care  if  the 
crew  forward  do  get  up  a  smart  row,  just  to  show 
that  they  have  been  bowsing  up  their  jibs  rather  lively. 
Now,  then,  away  you  go  to  your  duties.  Set  the  men  to 
work,  and  then  return  aft.  Be  lively  and  cautious." 

I  spoke  in  a  tone  of  assumed  confidence  for  the  sake  of 
assuring  the  two  officers  that  there  was  no  danger:  but  I 
did  not  feel  at  ease,  by  any  means  ;  and,  when  the  cutter 
came  alongside,  I  would  have  sold  out  my  share  of  the 
prize-money  of  the  Spitfire  at  a  very  small  sum.  As  the 
boat  touched  the  paddle-wheel,  an  officer  seized  the  man- 
ropes,  and  came  on  deck,  followed  by  four  of  his  men  ; 
and  I  "noticed  that  all  of  them  were  armed. 

"  Where  is  the  master  of  this  steamer  ?  "  demanded  the 
officer  —  a  lieutenant,  I  judged. 

"  You  are  addressing  him,  sir,"  I  answered  in  a  quick, 
curt  tone,  just  to  show  J"hn  Bull  that  I  did  not  tremble 
at  the  sound  of  his  voice. 


220  RUNNING  THE    BLOCKADE. 

"  You  have  had  considerable  noise  on  board,  sir,"  the 
officer  remarked.  "  What  is  the  meaning  of  it  ?  " 

"  I  should  suppose  that  you  had  been  in  Nassau  long 
enough  to  know  that  the  liquor  which  is  sold  to  seamen, 
by  the  sharks  on  shore,  is  fighting  proof." 

"  Yes ;  I  am  aware  of  it." 

"  Then  there  is  no  reason  for  me  to  explain  that  some 
of  my  men  are  drunk,  and  have  had  several  knock-downs 
during  the  evening." 

The  officer  turned  to  one  of  his  men,  and  said,  — 

"  Send  that  man  on  deck." 

What  man  did  he  mean  ?  I  had  not  the  least  idea  ;  so, 
while  the  command  was  being  obeyed,  I  pretended  to  be 
occupied  with  matters  that  related  to  the  ship.  In  a 
minute  or  two,  over  the  rail  crawled  a  dirty-looking  sailor, 
who  seemed  to  have  been  soaked  in  water,  and  then 
wrung  out  to  dry. 

"  Do  you  recognize  this  man  ?  "  asked  the  lieutenant, 
turning  to  me,  and  holding  up  a  lantern. 

"  Perhaps  I  should  if  some  of  the  dirt  was  washed  from 
his  face,"  I  answered,  wondering  what  he  was  driv- 
ing at. 

"  Tell  your  story,  Bobbins,"  commanded  the  officer,  as 
though  he  was  not  to  be  trifled  with. 

"  Veil,  yer  'onor,  I  vos  down  below,  and  had  heaten  my 
supper,  and  vos  a  srnokin'  of  my  pipe,  ven  a  lot  of  coves 
comes  in  the  forecastle,  and  they  takes  the  grog  out  of  our 
mouths,  and  then  punches  our  heads,  and  puts  marlin  on 
our  'ands.  I  seed  it  all,  and  I  jist  cuts  and  runs,  and 
jumps  overboard,  and  I  should  have  been  drownded  if  it 
vos  not  for  the  boat  vos  picks  me  up." 

"You  hear  the  story,  sir,"  remarked  the  lieutenant,  in 
a  tone  that  showed  he  wanted  an  explanation. 

"Yes;  I  hear  it.  Have  a  cigar?  It's  one  I  brought 
from  Havana,  and  a  fair  one.  Steward,  a  light.  Yes ;  I 


RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE.  221 

hear  the  man's  stor}^  and  I'm  sorry  you  picked  up  the 
drunken  fool.  He  had  ought  to  have  sunk  in  the  harbor, 
and  remained  there.  Blast  him !  he's  given  me  enough 
trouble  already." 

"  Vy,  this  ha'n't  the  skipper  of  the  steamer  !  "  cried  the 
sailor,  quite  dismayed  at  the  manner  in  which  I  talked 
about  him. 

I  did  not  pretend  to  notice  the  remark,  but  continued,  — 

"  Ever  since  the  fellow  has  been  on  board,  he  has  been 
drunk  and  quarrelsome.  In  fact,  two  thirds  of  my  men 
have  been  drinking  and  righting,  so  that  at  times  I  have 
had  to  employ  all  the  sober  ones  to  take  care  of  those 
intoxicated.  Such  a  crew  I  never  saw  before.  Just  come 
and  look  at  the  rascals." 

Now,  if  the  lieutenant  had  taken  me  at  my  word,  all 
would  have  been  lost ;  for  the  true  state  of  the  case 
would  have  been  discovered  ;  but  the  officer  had  seen 
enough  drunken  men  not  to  desire  to  look  at  a  fresh  lot ; 
so  he  excused  himself,  and  declined  to  enter  the  forecastle. 

"  I  tells  you  I  vos  sober  as  I'm  now  sober,"  cried  the 
sailor,  who  was  somewhat  excited  at  my  yarn. 

"  You  are  sober  now,  I  hope,"  I  answered  in  a  severe 
tone.  "  If  you  are  not,  I'll  find  a  way  to  sober  you  when 
we  are  outside.  Go  forward,  and  man  the  windlass.  Mr. 
Swivel,"  speaking  to  old  Ben,  who  was  within  hearing, 
"  see  that  this  man  is  set  to  work.  If  he  don't  stir  his 
stumps,  lay  a  rope's-end  over  his  back." 

"Ay,  ay,  sir,"  was  the  answer  ;  and  before  the  cockney 
could  recover  from  his  astonishment,  or  the  lieutenant 
remonstrate,  the  fellow  was  bundled  forward,  and  placed 
at  the  breaks  of  the  windlass. 

So  far  we  had  succeeded  to  perfection  ;  but,  just  as  the 
officer  was  about  to  leave  the  deck,  some  one  confined  in 
a  state-room  got  the  gag  from  nis  mouth,  and  shouted,  — 

'*  Help  !  murder  I  " 


222  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 

The  lieutenant  started,  and  seemed  a  little  surprised. 
Then  he  listened  most  attentively  ;  but  no  other  sound 
greeted  his  ears. 

"  What  is  the  meaning  of  that  cry  ?  "  asked  the  officer. 

Before  I  could  answer,  Harry  approached,  and  said,  — 

"  Captain,  the  crazy  man  is  awake,  and  is  as  violent 
as  ever." 

"  A  crazy  man  on  board  ?  "  asked  the  lieutenant. 

"  Yes,"  I  answered,  with  a  cool  He.  "  One  of  the 
passengers  lost  all  he  was  worth  by  the  capture  of  a  block- 
ade-runner. His  friends  are  sending  him  home,  where  he 
can  be  taken  care  of ;  for,  since  he  lost  his  fortune,  he  has 
also  lost  his  reason." 

"  Ah  !  a  hard  case.  He  has  cause  to  curse  the  Yankees. 
Is  he  violent  ?" 

"  At  times.  When  he  sees  a  person  whom  he  suspects 
of  being  a  Yankee,  his  ravings  are  shocking.  I  wish  that 
he  was  on  board  of  some  other  vessel,  for  it's  not  pleasant 
to  have  the  company  of  a  lunatic." 

"  I  agree  with  you.     Can  I  look  at  the  poor  fellow  ?  " 

Now  it  struck  me  that  the  officer  made  the  inquiry  in  a 
sarcastic  manner,  just  as  though  he  did  not  believe  me ; 
so  I  was  at  my  wit's  end  to  substantiate  my  word.  If  I 
refused  to  exhibit  the  lunatic  that  I  had  spoken  of,  the 
officer  would  insist  upon  entering  the  cabin,  and  search- 
ing ;  in  which  case  the  game  was  up,  and  we  were  all 
prisoners  for  breach  of  neutrality.  But,  while  I  was 
hesitating,  Harry  touched  my  hand,  and  whispered,  so 
that  none  but  I  could  hear, — 

"It's  all  right.     Let  him  enter." 

"  You  seem  to  have  some  objections  to  my  looking  at 
your  patient,"  the  British  officer  remarked. 

"  O,  no  !  But  I  was  thinking  that  the  sight  of  your 
uniform  might  injure  the  lunatic.  Come,  sir,  and  see  how 
the  Yankees  are  hated." 


RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE.  223 

We  followed  Harry  to  the  cabin.  All  was  quiet,  and 
the  doors  of  the  state-rooms  were  closed,  so  that  no  slight 
sound  could  escape  from  them.  A  dim  light  burned  in 
the  centre  of  the  cabin,  and  threw  its  feeble  rays  on  one 
or  two  men  who  acted  the  part  of  stewards  or  jailers,  sail- 
ors or  fighters.  They  started  up  as  we  entered,  but,  on  a 
sign,  appeared  to  take  no  further  interest  in  our  move- 
ments. 

"  This  is  the  state-room,  sir,  that  the  poor  fellow  is 
confined  in,"  said  Harry,  as  he  opened  a  door. 

The  room  was  dark  ;  but  no  sooner  was  the  door  opened, 
than  the  most  frightful  oaths  greeted  our  ears. 

"0,  you  blamed  Yankees  !"  howled  the  poor  fellow. 
"  CaptuVe  my  vessel,  will  you  ?  All  cotton,  and  lots  of 
money  to  be  made  running  the  blockade.  Ha,  ha !  I'll 
cheat  'em  yet.  All's  lost.  They've  got  her.  One,  two5 
three.  Three  shots,  and  all  miss.  Up  with  the  steam. 
Pile  on  tar  and  rosin.  We  must  out-steam  the  Yankee. 
He  don't  gain  on  us.  Now,  then,  one  more  mile,  and  we 
shall  be  under  the  guns  of  the  fort.  Bang !  We  are  hit. 
All's  lost." 

A  loud,  wailing  cry  closed  the  rambling  remarks.  The 
lieutenant  had  heard  enough.  He  retreated  in  some  haste. 

"  Won't  you  have  a  light,  and  look  at  the  men  ?  "  I 
asked. 

"No,  no;  I've  seen  enough.  What  misery  this  civil 
war  has  produced  !  " 

"  Yes  ;  and  we  are  not  to  blame  for  it.  The  Yankees 
forced  it  on  us.  We  wanted  peace." 

"  So  you  did,  and  you  will  have  it  if  you  fight  but  a 
little  while  longer.  The  Yankees  are  about  tired  of  it." 

"  Let  me  out  of  this.  Help !  "  roared  one  of  our 
prisoners,  who  had  removed  the  gag  from  his  mouth. 

"  Poor  fellow !  I  shall  have  trouble  with  him  before  we 
reach  Wilmington,"  I  remarked,  as  we  reached  the  cabin 
door. 


224  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

The  officer  seemed  to  notice  that  the  voice  was  a  little 
different ;  but  he  appeared  to  think  that  it  was  the  effect 
of  lunacy.  I  must  confess  that  I  felt  relieved  when  we 
once  more  reached  the  deck,  and  Ben  came  to  me,  and 
reported  that  the  anchor  was  clear  of  the  bottom. 

I  touched  the  bell  to  let  on  steam  —  a  strong  hint 
for  the  lieutenant  to  take  his  departure  ;  but  just  at 
this  moment  the  Englishman  laid  his  hand  on  my  arm, 
and  said,  — 

"  It  won't  do,  Mr.  Yankee.  Run  the  ship  under  the 
guns  of  Her  Majesty's  ship.  The  trick  was  well  planned, 
but  it  has  failed." 

The  Englishman  had  discovered  who  we  were,  and  all 
seemed  lost. 

"Yes,"  said  the  lieutenant,  after  a  significant  pause. 
"  Your  Yankee  trick  won't  go  down  this  time,  I  sus- 
pected you  all  along,  but  thought  I'd  wait  and  see  how 
far  you  would  go  in  your  peculiar  business.  It  was  well 
played,  Mr.  Yankee  ;  but  John  Bull  is  fully  as  sharp  as 
you  are.  Run  the  steamer  under  the  guns  of  the  Ama- 
zon." 

"  You  have  won,"  I  said,  more  for  the  purpose  of  gain- 
ing time  than  anything  else.  "  I  thought  that  I  had  a 
sure  thing ;  but  it  seems  that  I  had  not.  You  English- 
men are  smarter  than  I  gave  you  credit  for  being." 

The  Briton  chuckled,  and  assumed  important  airs  im- 
mediately. 

"  Yes,"  he  said  ;  "  we  are  the  boldest  and  most  ven- 
turesome race  in  the  world.  There  is  nothing  we  do  not 
dare  to  undertake,  however  reckless." 

"  Yet  I  doubt  if  you  would  have  undertaken  such  a  job 
as  this." 

I  tried  to  laugh  as  I  spoke  ;  but  the  effort  was  not  suc- 
cessful. 

"  Pooh !  this  is  nothing  compared  to  what  a  Briton  is 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  225 

capable  of  doing.  If  we  were  at  war  with  you  Yankees, 
not  a  ship  in  your  harbors  would  be  safe  from  our  boats. 
We  should  cut  them  out,  sir.  We  could  do  it,  and  we 
should,  sir." 

Suddenly,  while  I  was  listening  to  the  Englishman's 
blast  of  complacency,  a  mouth  was  placed  close  to  my  ear, 
and  a  whisper  said,  — 

"  Keep  him  yarning  as  long  as  possible.  There  is  yet 
hope." 

It  was  Harry's  voice.  He  had  stolen  aft  in  the  dark, 
and  communicated  with  me  without  the  least  suspicion  on 
the  part  of  the  lieutenant,  who  was  leaning  against  the 
fife-rail,  smoking  a  cigar,  and  boasting  of  his  smartness. 

•*  Come,"  I  said,  "  and  take  a  glass  of  something.  We 
have  time  enough,  for  we  shan't  be  under  the  guns  of  the 
ship  for  some  time." 

But  the  fellow  fought  shy  on  the  liquor  question,  fear- 
ing some  Yankee  trick. 

"  No,"  he  said.  "  I  shall  remain  on  deck  until  the 
steamer  is  anchored  under  the  guns  of  the  Amazon.  No 
Yankee  tricks  on  me,  Mr.  Violator  of  Neutrality." 

As  he  spoke,  I  saw  two  of  his  men  leave  the  cutter  that 
was  alongside  near  the  steps  of  the  wheel-house,  and  puss 
forward. 

"  You  are  still  suspicious  of  us,"  I  remarked  for  the 
purpose  of  continuing  the  conversation,  glad  that  the 
lieutenant  saw  nothing. 

"  Yes  ;  I  have  to  keep  a  weather  eye  open  for  people 
of  your  stripe." 

Two  more  of  the  cutter's  crew  passed  over  the  rail,  and 
walked  forward. 

"  I  am  sorry  that  you  don't  feel  confidence  in  us,"  I  re- 
marked. "  What  can  we  do  to  inspire  it  ?  " 

"  Jump  overboard,"  was  the  insulting  answer.  "  Such 
people  as  you  ain't  much  better  than  pirates." 


226  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

Two  more  of  the  English  sailors  came  up  the  steps, 
and  jumped  to  the  deck.  They  were  careless,  and  made 
so  much  noise  that  the  lieutenant's  attention  was  at- 
tracted. 

"  Hollo  !  "  he  said,  as  soon  as  he  saw  the  men.  "  What 
are  you  doing  on  deck  ?  Go  back  to  the  boat,  and  don't 
you  leave  it  again  till  I  order  you  to." 

To  my  surprise  and  the  lieutenant's  consternation,  the 
men  made  no  answer.  They  merely  hesitated  for  a  mo- 
ment, and  then  walked  forward. 

"By  St.  George!"  exclaimed  the  enraged  lieuten- 
ant ;  "  but  I  won't  stand  such  blamed  insolence.  Come 
back,  you  beggars  ;  or  I'll  make  you." 

He  started  to  follow  the  men  ;  but  they  disappeared  in 
the  darkness,  and  the  baffled  officer  returned  aft,  and 
looked  eagerly  over  the  rail  into  the  boat. 

"  Brown !     Jones  !     Riley  !  "  he  cried. 

There  was  no  answer. 

"  Hollo  !  "  he  continued  impatiently.  "  Are  you  all 
asleep?  " 

Still  there  was  no  response  to  the  officer's  demand. 

"  If  I  come  down  there,"  he  cried,  getting  decidedly 
angry,  "  you  will  talk  and  walk  rather  lively." 

No  attention  was  paid  to  the  threat.  This  surprised 
me  ;  for  I  certainly  supposed  there  was  at  least  one  man 
in  the  boat. 

The  lieutenant  could  endure  no  more.  He  sprang  to 
the  rail,  and  went  quickl}7  clown  the  side  steps. 

No  sooner  had  he  disappeared,  than  Harry  touched  me 
on  the  arm ;  and  turning,  I  saw  the  youngster  with  a 
broad  grin  on  his  mischievous  face. 

"  It's  all  right,  sir,"  he  said.     "  We  have  'em,  sure." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  I  mean  that  we  have  played  them  another  Yankee 
trick,  and  that  the  steamer  is  still  in  our  possession." 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  227 

"  Explain.  And  be  lively  about  it ;  for  the  Englishman 
Is  cursing  like  a  pirate,  and  will  soon  be  on  deck." 

"  Well,"  said  Harry,  "  we  enticed  the  fellows  forward 
on  the  plea  of  having  a  drink  ;  and  after  they  had  swal- 
lowed about  a  gallon  of  whiskey,  it  was  not  hard  to  put 
them  under  hatches,  where  they  are,  safe  and  sound." 

"  And  now  we  must  deal  with  the  lieutenant,"  said  I, 
in  a  low  tone.  "  Hark  !  here  he  comes,  tearing  mad." 

"  What  is  the  meaning  of  this  ?  "  roared  the  Briton  as 
he  touched  the  deck.  '  u  My  men  are  all  gone." 

"  It  means  that  you  are  a  prisoner.  Give  up  your  pis- 
tols and  sword." 

The  officer  started  back,  and  laid  a  hand  on  a  pistol ; 
but  old  Ben  and  Harry  clapped  their  paws  on  him,  and 
held  him  fast,  in  spite  of  struggles  and  oaths. 

"Do  you  dare  to  lay  your  hands  on  me?"  demanded 
the  Briton. 

"Yes,  and  shall  keep  them  on  unless  you   are  civil.'*" 
Realize  your  situation.     You  are  a  prisoner  for  the  pres- 
ent.    Resistance  is  useless;    so  don't   compel   us   to   be 
rough." 

I  stepped  to  the  tube  that  connected  with  the  engi- 
neer's room,  and  gave  orders  to  go  ahead  at  moderate 
speed. 

While  I  was  speaking  with  the  engineer,  the  lieutenant 
broke  away  from  Ben  and  Harry,  and  ran  aft,  and  before 
we  could  prevent  him,  had  hailed  the  Amazon,  which 
was  lying  about  a  cable's  length  from  us. 

"Amazon,  ahoy!  "  he  cried;  but  before  he  could  utter 
another  word,  Ben's  huge  hand  was  upon  his  throat,  and 
for  2.  time  his  breath  was  stopped. 

"  Hollo  !  "  came  the  answer  back  from  the  sloop  of  war. 

I  knew  that  some  answer  must  be  returned,  or  suspicion 
would  be  excited.  There  was  no  time  to  lose.  Imitat- 
ing, as  well  as  I  was  able,  the  Englishman's  voice,  I 
shouted,  — 


228  RUNNING   THE  BLOCKADE 

"  The  steamer  is  all  right,  and  will  proceed." 

"  Very  well,"  came  back  in  surly  tones,  as  though  the 
officer  of  the  deck  wondered  what  in  the  fiend's  viama  was 
the  use  of  hailing  to  convey  such  information. 

"  You  shall  suffer  for  this,"  our  prisoner  gasped,  as  soon 
as  he  could  recover  his  breath. 

"  Perhaps  we  shall ;  but  we  will  take  good  care  that 
you  keep  quiet,  nevertheless." 

All  this  time  we  were  slowly  leaving  the  harbor  and 
vessels  astern  of  us.  We  were  steaming  along  at  the  rate 
of  five  knots  an  hour, — just  such  a  rate  as  would 
not  attract  attention,  or  make  the  officers  of  the  Amazon 
think  that  we  were  over-anxious  to  leave  their  com- 
pany,—  and  just  as  we  supposed  we  were  a)l  clear,  the 
dull  report  of  a  gun  from  the  spar-deck  of  the  gunboat 
startled  us. 

"  What  does  that  mean,  Ben  ?  "  I  asked  ;  for  the  old 
v  master's  mate  stood  near  me,  helping  me  pilot  the  steamer 
out  of  the  harbor. 

"  It  looks  like  a  signal  to  get  under  way,  sir,  and  a  re- 
call of  the  cutter  at  the  same  time.  We  had  better  turn 
the  officer  loose,  and  let  him  shift  for  himself  in  the  boat." 

"  But  the  crew  who  accompanied  him.  What  shall  wo 
do  with  them  ?  " 

"  Let  'cm  be  on  board,  sir.  They  is  all  asleep,  primed 
with  whiskey  ;  and  it  would  be  a  pity  to  disturb  'em. 
When  they  wakes  up,  they  will  be  satisfied,  I'll  warrant 
you." 

We  disarmed  the  lieutenant,  and  in  spite  of  his  remon- 
strances, made  him  enter  the  cutter,  and  then  cast  off  the 
painter,  and  the  boat  dropped  astern. 

"  Give  our  love  to  your  shipmates,"  I  said.  "  The  next 
tune  you  want  to  get  ahead  of  the  Yankees,  you  must  look 
out  for  their  tricks." 

He  cursed  us  in  great  shape,  and  the  last  thing  that  we 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  229 

heard  was  a  solemn  vow  to  overhaul  and  sink  us  before 
we  got  clear  of  the  shoals. 

"  Now,  then,  what  will  you  do  ?  "  asked  Ben,  as  the 
cutter  'disappeared  from  sight.  "  Can't  you  go  along 
with  us?" 

"  No,  Ben,"  I  said.  "  I  can't  go  with  you  just  at  pres- 
ent. I  must  return  to  the  shore,  and  thus  save  myself 
from  suspicion.  You  know  what  to  do  with  the  steamer 
as  well  as  I.  Keep  on  until  you  sight  the  Stingeree.  She 
is  lying  near  Hog  Island,  somewhere,  on  the  watch. 
Steam  on  until  you  are  out  of  neutral  waters.  Then 
a  round  shot  or  a  blank  cartridge  can  stop  you.  But 
above  all  things,  don't  let  the  Bull  Dog  overhaul  you. 
Burst  the  boiler  before  you  permit  such  a  thing." 

The  steam  was  shut  off,  the  dingey  hauled  up,  and  once 
more  I  shook  hands  with  the  officers,  and  then  descended 
the  side. 

Just  at  that  moment  I  heard  the  discharge  of  a  gun, 
and  saw  by  the  flash  that  it  came  from  the  English  sloop 
of  war. 

"  Clap  on  steam,"  I  shouted.  "  The  Bull  Dog  is  after 
you." 

"  Ay,  ay ;  but  he  must  catch  us  afore  he  crows  too 
much !  "  growled  Ben ;  and  with  the  words  the  painter 
waa  cast  off,  and  away  the  steamer  went  at  the  rate  of 
twelve  miles  an  hour. 

"  A  stern  chase  is  a  long  chase,"  I  muttered,  as  I  lay  on 
my  ours,  and  followed  the  course  of  the  two  vessels. 
Then,  recollecting  that  the  hour  was  late,  I  once  more 
applied  myself  to  work,  and  pulled  in  shore,  working 
along  the  beach  until  I  gained  a  good  lauding.  After 
stepping  from  the  boat,  I  gave  it  a  shove,  and  sent  it  out 
into  the  tide-way,  where  it  met  the  current,  and  drifted 
seaward,  thus  destroying  all  evidence  of  my  complicity 
with  the  seizure. 


230  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 

When  I  set  foot  on  land,  it  was  about  eleven  o'clock, 
and  all  was  quiet  on  the  beach.  I  met  but  few  persons  as 
I  walked  towards  the  town  ;  and  none  of  those  spoke  to 
me,  for  the  reason  that  I  was  dressed  in  the  garb  of  a 
sailor,  and  did  not  present  a  very  promising  aspect  to 
those  who  made  Nassau  their  headquarters,  and  who 
would  have  hanged  me  like  a  dog  if  they  had  known 
the  business  in  which  I  had  been  engaged  but  an  hour 
before. 

'  When  I  reached  the  hotel,  I  found  that  about  all  the 
guests  had  retired  for  the  night,  so  that  no  one  noticed 
me  as  I  stole  up  stairs,  and  went  to  bed,  tired  with  the 
fatigues  and  adventures  of  the  day. 

I  dreamed  of  Englishmen,  blockade-runners,  Mrs. 
Gowen,  Hatty  Blank,  Colonel  Rhett,  and  the  amiable 
daughter  of  that  Virginia  hero  ;  until  the  gong  sounded 
for  breakfast,  and  down  to  the  dining-room  the  guests 
flocked,  eager  for  their  coffee  and  fresh  fish. 

On  the  stairs  Bowmount  seized  my  arm. 

44  Wan't  I  a  little  tight  last  night  when  I  went  to  bed  ?  " 
he  asked. 

He  didn't  know  of  my  absence  from  the  hotel  during 
the  evening,  it  seemed,  by  the  question. 

"  Well,  you  were  a  little  over  the  bay,"  I  remarked. 

"  But  not  noisy,  you  know.  I  wasn't  in  an  argufying 
mood,  now  was  I  ?  " 

"  No  ;  I  think  not.  You  seemed  to  enjoy  your  liquor 
in  a  rational  way,  and  didn't  want  to  fight  but  one  man 
during  the  evening." 

This  was  a  guess  on  my  part,  and  it  seemed  that  I  was 
correct ;  for  the  Kentuckian  said  in  an  apologetic  man- 
ner,— 

"  But,  ye  see,  the  fellow  would  run  down  the  Yankees, 
and  I  kept  tellin'  him  to  stop.  A  man  what  drinks  my 
whiskey,  and  don't  agree  with  me,  lu  d  better  cut  than 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  231 

stay  round  and  kick  up  a  row  with  a  peaceable  man  like 
me.  I  told  the  bloody  fool  to  stop  ;  but  he  wouldn't.  But 
you  seed  it  all,  and  knows  that  I  wasn't  to  blame  ;  now 
don't  you  ?  " 

"  Not  so  much  as  you  are  sometimes.  But  no  harm  was 
done." 

"  No.     Shucks  I  didn't  the  coward  run  and  leave  us  ?  " 

I  pretended  to  acquiesce  in  this  statement,  for  the  rea- 
son that  I  might  want  the  Kentuckian  as  a  witness  to 
prove  that  I  was  in  his  company  all  the  evening,  in  case 
any  one  should  assert  I  was  on  a  "  cutting-out  "  expedi- 
tion the  night  before.  Little  did  I  think,  when  such 
thoughts  passed  through  my  mind,  that  I  should  need  just 
such  assistance,  before  long,  as  Bowmount  could  render. 

We  sat  down  to  the  table,  Bowmount  on  my  right, 
and  a  fat  little  fellow  from  Charleston  on  my  left.  He 
had  escaped  from  South  Carolina  to  avoid  the  conscrip- 
tion ;  althongh,  according  to  his  own  story,  he  was  help- 
ing his  government  by  picking  up  items  that  would  be 
beneficial  to  all  concerned. 

Just  opposite  to  me  was  a  vacant  chair,  and  I  hoped 
that  Miss  Rhett  or  Mrs.  Gowen  would  take  possession  of 
it.  But  neither  lady  liked  the  location  ;  so  they  gave  it  a 
wide  berth,  when  they  saw  the  Kentuckian. 

I  had  just  ordered  my  breakfast,  and  was  sipping  my 
coffee  to  see  if  it  was  to  my  taste,  when  some  one  entered 
the  dining-room,  and  took  the  vacant  chair.  As  he  made 
considerable  noise  in  seating  himself,  some  attention  was 
attracted ;  and  in  looking  up,  I  saw,  to  my  surprise,  that  it 
was  the  English  naval  officer  who  had  boarded  the  Spitfire 
the  night  before,  >nd  who  had  been  turned  adrift  in  his 
own  boat,  after  he  thought  he  had  matters  his  own  way. 

There  was  a  peculiar  feeling  in  the  region  of  my  heart 
when  I  realized  how  near  I  was  to  danger.  But  it  was 
only  for  a  moment.  I  soon  regained  all  of  my  coolness, 
16 


232  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

and  awaited  an  attack  with  becoming  resignation,  and 
faith  in  nay  supreme  impudence  to  repel  it. 

The  storm  burst  in  less  time  than  I  had  anticipated. 

The  naval  officer  had  just  sweetened  his  coffee  and 
taken  one  glance  around  the  table,  when  his  eyes  fell 
on  my  face. 

I  could  hear  him  breathe  hard  as  the  fact  became  im- 
pressed upon  his  mind  that  I  was  the  same  person  who 
had  played  him  such  a  Yankee  trick  the  night  before. 

In  the  mean  time  I  had  assumed  one  of  my  most  indif- 
ferent looks,  and  appeared  to  be  eating  my  breakfast  as 
though  I  enjoyed  it,  while  I  pleasantly  chatted  with  the 
Kentuckian  and  the  little  fat  Charleston  fellow,  who  was 
only  too  glad  to  have  me  notice  him. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir,"  said  the  Englishman,  speak- 
ing across  the  table,  and  turning  very  red  in  the  face, 
while  he  breathed  as  though  laboring  with  an  asthma. 

"  Did  you  speak  to  me,  sir  ?  "  I  asked,  looking  at  the 
victim  in  an  inquiring  manner,  as  though  surprised  at 
being  addressed. 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  I  did." 

"  O  !     Well,  what  do  you  require  ?  " 

"  When  did  you  come  on  shore  ?  "  asked  the  English- 
man. 

"  Let  me  see  ;  when  did  we  land  here,  Bowmount  ?  " 

I  turned  to  the  Kentuckian  as  though  I  had  forgotten 
the  day. 

"  Two  weeks  ago  yesterday." 

"  So  it  was.     Do  you  hear,  sir  ?  " 

"  I  mean,  sir,  at  what  hour  did  you  land  this  morning 
from  the  Spitfire?" 

I  looked  at  the  Kentuckian  as  though  demanding  an 
explanation. 

"  What  the  deuce  does  he  mean  ?  "  I  remarked. 

"  Hang  me  if  I  know.  Throw  a  cup  at  his  head,  and 
oee  if  it  won't  bring  him  to  his  senses." 


RUNNING   THE  BLOCKADE.  £33 

This  was  said  in  a  whisper.  I  did  not  follow  the  ad- 
vice, for  the  time  had  not  yet  arrived  for  honest  indigna- 
tion. 

"  My  meaning,  sir,"  said  the  lieutenant,  in  as  calm  a 
tone  as  he  could  assume,  considering  the  importance  of 
the  accusation,  k'  is  quite  simple  to  a  man  of  your  sharp- 
ness." 

"  Do  you  intend  to  cast  any  reflections  on  me,  sir  ?  " 

"  I  simply  want  an  understanding,  sir." 

"  Well,  sir,  you  can  have  it ;  only  be  lively  about  it ; 
for  I  want  to  eat  my  breakfast  in  peace." 

"Did  you  ever  see  me  before,  sir?"  demanded  the 
Englishman. 

"  I  should  think  not,  and  you  will  excuse  me  if  I  add 
that  I  have  no  desire  to  see  you  again." 

Some  of  the  people  at  the  table,  who  heard  the  answer, 
laughed  quite  heartily,  and  among  them  was  the  little  fat 
Fellow  from  Charleston.  It  seemed  as  though  he  would 
choke,  he  appeared  so  pleased. 

"  It  is  useless  to  return  any  such  answers  to  me,  sir, 
because  I  know  you." 

"  That's  more  than  he  does  himself  when  he  has  fin- 
ished six  whiskey-punches,"  put  in  Bowmount  with  a 
growl,  that  produced  another  laugh  ;  but  the  naval  officer 
did  not  smile.  The  subject  was  too  serious  for  him  to 
exhibit  much  mirth. 

"  What  have  you  on  your  mind?  "  I  asked,  as  soon  as 
the  laugh  had  somewhat  subsided.  "  Come ;  speak  plain- 
ly, and  let  me  know." 

"  Were  you  on  board  the  blockade-runner  Spitfire  last 
night  ?  " 

"  No  ;  were  you  ?  " 

The  lieutenant  did  not  relish  the  answer ;  for  he  raised 
his  voice,  as  he  said,  — 

"'  You  can't  deceive  me.     I  recognized  you.     You  were 


234  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 

on  board  the  Spitfire  last  night,  and  helped  capture  her  in 
the  harbor,  and  set  me  adrift  in  a  boat  after  getting  my 
men  drunk." 

"  O  Lord  !  but  that  must  have  been  a  Yankee  trick," 
roared  Bowmount.  "  Hang  'em !  they  is  capable  of  most 
inything.  We  isn't  safe  in  our  beds.  Afore  we  knows 
it,  they  11  hitch  on  to  this  bloody  island,  and  tow  us  in  one 
of  their  harbors  ;  and  then  we  shall  wake  up  prisoners  in 
Fort  Warren,  or  some  other  place.  If  the  English  ain't 
no  cuter  than  they  has  shown  themselves,  they  won't  have 
a  ship  left  by  the  time  the  war  has  finished.  Shucks  ! 
but  I  wish  it  was  John  Bull  we  was  fighting,  instead  of 
our  own  flesh  and  blood." 

This  remark  was  followed  by  a  slight  hiss  from  some 
of  the  Southerners  ;  and  the  sound  excited  the  Kentuck- 
ian,  as  I  knew  it  would.  In  an  instant  he  began  to  grow 

ugly. 

"  This  bluster  won't  turn  me  aside,"  remarked  the  offi- 
cer. "  I  know  both  of  you  now.  You  each  performed  a 
part  on  board  the  Spitfire.  Both  of  you  are  pirates." 

Before  he  had  a  chance  to  utter  another  word,  Bow- 
mount  had  hurled  coffee-cup,  saucer,  and  hot  coffee,  full 
at  the  head  of  the  Englishman  ;  and  all  three  of  the 
articles  struck  where  they  were  aimed. 

The  naval  officer  was  rather  surprised  at  being  saluted 
in  the  manner  that  Bowmount  had  chosen  to  adopt. 

His  first  attempt  was  to  clear  the  coffee  from  his  eyes, 
and  to  brush  the  crockery  ware  from  his  hair ;  and  after 
he  had  performed  those  operations,  he  turned  to  Bow- 
mount,  and  in  a  voice  that  was  tremendous  with  rage, 
said,  — 

"  You  and  your  friend  shall  suffer  for  this.  I  know 
both  of  you." 

"  Well,  I'm  very  sorry  for  the  information  ;  for  I  don't 
want  your  acquaintance.  I'm  particular  on  that  p'int  if 
I  ain't  on  others." 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  235 

"  You've  committed  a  gross  outrage,  sir,  and  shall  suffer 
for  it.  I'm  in  her  majesty's  navy,  sir." 

"  Shucks  !  I  don't  care  if  you  is  in  it  or  out  of  it.  In 
Old  Kaintuck,  we  settle  such  things  in  short  order.  There 
is  few  words  ;  and  what  there  is  of  'em,  is  sharp,  and  to 
the  p'int.  You  will  know  where  to  find  me  when  you 
wants  to  see  me." 

"  Mr.  Bowmount,"  I  said  in  a  firm  tone,  "  I  shan't 
allow  this  to  go  any  further.  If  there  is  any  quarrel,  this 
gentleman  and  I  must  be  allowed  to  settle  it." 

"  No  you  don't,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  hain't  had  a  real 
fancy  fight  since  I  left  Kaintuck,  and  I  don't  mean  to  be 
disappinted  now." 

As  we  passed  out  of  the  dining-room,  Mrs.  Gowen  stood 
in  the  door  of  the  ladies'  parlor,  and  beckoned  to  me. 

I  entered  the  apartment,  and  the  lady  led  me  to  the 
farther  end  of  the  room,  and  said  in  a  low  tone,  — 

"  You  must  leave  the  island.  If  you  remain  here 
another  day,  you  will  be  arrested  and  imprisoned.  Do 
not  delay,  but  go  at  once.  You  have  no  tune  to  lose." 

"  Who  is  to  arrest  me  ?  " 

"  The  British  officer  whom  you  quarrelled  with  a  mo- 
ment since." 

"  I  didn't  quarrel  with  him.     Bowmouut  was  the  one." 

"  No  matter  for  that.  Both  of  you  are  marked  for  im- 
prisonment. I  overheard  the  officer  tell  another  Eng- 
lishman that  he  was  going  to  lodge  a  complaint  against 
both  of  you  for  being  concerned  in  the  cutting  out  of  the 
Spitfire." 

"  I  only  laugh  such  an  absurd  accusation  to  scorn." 

"  But  there  is  trouble  in  the  charge.  Go  you  must.  I 
shall  go  with  you.  I  have  business  in  Georgia.  My  hus- 
band also,  must  go  and  look  after  his  affairs." 

Just  at  this  moment,  info  the  parlor  came  Bowmount. 

"  Shucks,  Barnwell !  "  he  said ;  "  but  they  is  arter  us, 


236  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

and  no  mistake.  What  do  you  think  they  accuse  us  of  ? 
Of  piracy.  That  Britisher  says  we  is  on  it.  I  call  it 
mighty  uncivil  to  talk  that  way  about  a  man  what  is  en- 
gaged to  fight  a  duel  with  yer  ;  now  ain't  it  ?  " 

"  It  is  hard." 

"  Yes  ;  and  what  is  worse,  I  don't  believe  the  feller  will 
see  me.  I  has  just  been  told  to  run  for  it,  'cos  they  is 
goiu'  to  take  us  both  for  cuttin'  out  the  Spitfire.  It's 
little  we  knows  about  her.  Hang  the  chap !  if  I  gets  a 
crack  at  him,  I'll  make  him  feel  it  for  life ;  now  you 
see  if  I  don't." 

"  But  what  shall  we  do  ?  "  I  asked.  "  If  we  remain, 
and  are  arrested,  who  will  go  bail  for  us  ?  " 

"  Hang  me  if  I  know.  I  s'pose  the  fellers  would  be 
glad  to  see  me  under  lock  and  key  out  of  their  sight." 

"  Yes ;  but  as  far  as  the  Spitfire  is  concerned,  we  can 
prove  that  we  know  nothing  about  her.  But  the  question 
is,  will  they  listen  to  us  until  they  get  ready  to  hear  what 
we  have  got  to  say  ?  " 

"  Of  course  they  won't,"  muttered  Bowmount,  per- 
plexed. 

"  Then  don't  remain  here,"  cried  Mrs.  Gowen,  with  all 
the  nervous  excitement  of  a  Southern  woman.  "  Leave 
Nassau  as  soon  as  possible.  A  steamer  sails  at  noon." 

"  Yes,"  slowly  muttered  the  Kentuckian  ;  "  we  can  go 
in  her  jest  as  well  as  not,  'cos  half  of  her  belongs  to  me." 

"  Why,  I  didn't  know  that  you  had  been  speculating," 
I  remarked,  in  a  somewhat  surprised  tone. 

"  'Cos  I  wanted  td  startle  yer.  While  ye  thought  I  was 
drunk,  and  full  of  fight,  I  was  at  work.  Yes,  sir ;  I  owns 
half  of  the  steamer,  and  most  of  the  cargo.  She's  called 
the  Belle,  and  she's  purty  enough  to  be  called  so." 

"  Is  she  fast  ?  "  I  asked,  as  I  thought  of  the  Stingeree. 

"  Wai,  I  don't  think  the  Yanks  has  anything  in  their 
navy  that  will  touch  her.  But  keep  mum.  I  has  a  plan 


RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE.  237 

to  propose.  I  wants  a  captain  for  my  steamer.  The  one 
what  I  had  is  down  with  some  kind  of  sickness.  You 
must  go  and  take  charge  of  her." 

"  Perhaps  Mr.  Barnwell  is  not  quite  proficient  enough 
to  take  charge  of  a  steamer,"  the  lady  remarked,  in  a 
tone  that  was  intended  to  be  kind  ;  hut  I  thought  it  a 
little  sarcastic. 

"  Don't  you  believe  all  that,"  was  the  reply  of  Bow- 
mount.  "  He  knows  all  about  a  ship.  Weren't  we  pas- 
sengers together,  and  didn't  he  tell  what  I  didn't  know 
about  ?  I  ain't  afeared  to  trust  him  with  my  vessel,  I 
ain't.  If  he  says  he'll  go,  we'll  give  'em  the  slip  in  no 
time  ;  and  afore  they  opens  their  eyes,  we'll  be  out  of 
sight." 

I  still  hesitated,  but  the  Kentuckian  continued  :  — 

"  If  we  gets  in  all  safe,  it  puts  ten  thousand  dollars  in 
gold  in  your  pocket,  and  a  hundred  thousand  in  mine. 
There's  risks  to  run,  but  we  can't  make  money  without 
some  venture." 

There  was  no  way  that  I  could  escape  without  enraging 
the  Kentuckian,  and  endangering  my  own  safety  ;  so  after 
a  moment's  more  reflection,  and  thinking  what  excusb 
I  could  offer  to  the  navy  department,  I  agreed  to  take 
charge  of  the  steamer,  and  try  a  trip  to  Charleston,  which 
I  knew  was  pretty  closely  blockaded,  and  therefore  cap- 
ture, I  was  almost  certain,  would  follow. 

"  I  take  all  the  risks,"  the  Kentuckian  said.  "  If  we  is 
took,  there's  so  much  money  out  of  our  pockets.  If  we  is 
lucky,  there  is  so  much  money  in.  Pack  up,  and  pay 
your  bills,  and  then  go  on  board.  As  for  me,  I  must  steal 
off  the  best  way  I  can." 

•'  Leave  me  to  take  care  of  your  baggage,"  said  Mrs. 
Gowen.  "  I  will  bring  it  off  with  me." 

•'  Then  you  insist  upon  being  a  passenger  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Yes ;  I  must  go  to  Georgia.     I  am  needed  there." 


238  RUNNING  THE    BLOCKADE. 

"  A  state-room  is  at  your  service,"  Bowmount  said. 

He  did  not  appear  in  the  least  surprised  at  the  deter- 
mination. 

"  Your  .husband  will  accompany  us,  will  he  ?"  was  the 
only  question  asked. 

"  He  will." 

"Then  I  will  leave  you  to  see  that  our  traps  is  on 
board,  while  I  tends  to  other  things.  You  see  we  ain't  nc 
time  to  lose." 

The  Kentuckian  pointed  out  of  the  window.  Coming 
up  the  gravel  walk,  we  saw  six  police  officers,  and  at  theii 
head  marched  the  naval  officer  whose  face  had  been  bap- 
tized in  coffee. 

"  I  think  I  could  lick  'ein  all,"  growled  the  Kentuck- 
ian, as  he  rested  his  hand  on  the  formidable  bowie-knife 
that  reposed  in  his  bosom.  "  Is  it  best  to  tackle  'em  ?  " 

"No.  Discretion  is  the  better  part  of  valor  just  at 
present  Mrs.  Gowen,  will  you  be  kind  enough  to  pay 
our  bills?  We  must  leave." 

Bowmount  leaped  from  the  piazza  to  the  ground,  and  I 
followed. 

We  met  no  one  belonging  to  the  hotel  until  we  were 
near  the  street  that  led  to  the  harbor.  Then  we  carno 
plump  upon  Soule",  with  a  despatch-box  under  his  arm. 

"  Where  are  you  fellows  going  ?  "  he  asked. 

"Not  far." 

"  Then  I  will  join  you.  I  want  to  put  these  despatches 
for  the  confederate  government  on  board  a  steamer  that 
is  to  sail  in  a  day  or  two." 

"  Do  you  mean  the  Belle  ?  "  Bowmount  asked. 

"  Yes." 

"  Hand  them  here.  Don't  say  a  word,  but  we  are  going 
on  board  that  steamer.  Don't  mention  that  you  have 
seen  us." 

The  Kentuckian  snatched  i><?  box  from  the  spy's  hand, 


MRS.  GOWEN  COVERS   OUR  RETREAT.  —  Page  238. 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  239 

and  walked  off  before  the  fellow  knew  what  to  think  of 
the  matter. 

"  We  don't  want  him  poking  along  with  us,"  Bow- 
mount  said  ;  and  Sould  appeared  to  think  the  same  thing, 
for  he  stood  looking  after  us  for  a  moment,  and  then 
walked  towards  the  nearest  billiard-saloon,  to  compose  his 
feelings  by  knocking  about  the  balls. 

We  found  one  of  the  steamer's  boats  at  the  mole  ;  and 
without  waiting  a  moment  tumbled  in,  and  ordered  the 
men  to  pull  us  on  board. 

Luckily  the  sailors  knew  Bowmount  as  one  of  the  new 
owners  of  the  Belle  ;  so  they  made  no  objection  to  obey- 
ing orders. 

As  we  pulled  past  the  English  sloop  of  war  Amazon,  the 
companion  steamer  to  the  Bull  Dog,  we  turned  away  our 
heads  to  prevent  the  officers  on  the  quarter-deck  from  rec- 
ognizing us,  as  they  would  have  done  had  they  seen  our 
faces. 

In  a  few  moments  the  boat  was  alongside  the  blockade- 
runner,  and  I  had  a  fair  view  of  my  charge.  She  was  a 
snaky-looking  craft,  painted  lead  color,  set  low  in  the 
water,  with  a  stem  like  a  razor,  and  run  like  a  yacht.  She 
had  paddle-wheels,  and  was  rigged  like  a  brig  forward 
and  schooner  aft,  with  patent  caps  and  fids  to  her  masts, 
so  that  they  could  be  housed  in  ten  minutes  in  case  of  a 
head  wind,  or  if  it  was  necessary  to  make  as  little  display 
01  top-gear  as  possible. 

We  went  forward,  and  found  two  ten-pound  Whit- 
worth  guns  and  several  small  swivels  secured  to  the  rail ; 
but  they  were  evidently  more  for  show  than  use,  as  the 
Belle  meant  to  show  her  heels  to  a  foe,  and  not  her  teeth. 

The  cabin  was  small,  but  neat,  with  six  good-sized 
state-rooms,  and  one  for  the  master,  which  was  extra  large, 
and  lumbered  with  charts  and  all  the  instruments  needed 
to  define  a  ship's  position  at  sea  or  near  the  shore.  From 


240  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

the  cabin  we  went  to  the  engine-room,  where  Bowmonnt 
introduced  to  me  tLe  engineers,  both  of  them  natives  of 
New  York.  Smart-lcoking  fellows  they  were  ;  but  it  was 
evident  that  they  thought  more  of  gold  than  they  did  of 
the  country  that  claimed  them. 

"  I  found  'em  in  Nassau,  and  took  'em  in  preference  to 
Englishmen,"  whispered  Bowmount.  "  They'll  keep  up 
steam,  or  bust  the  darned  b'ilers ;  you  see  if  they  don't." 

"  Are  they  to  be  trusted?     Are  you  sure  of  them  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  'cos  they  have  made  two  trips  already,  and  piled 
up  the  profits,  now  I  tell  you." 

I  was  compelled  to  believe  the  men  honest  as  far  as 
their  work  was  concerned. 

"Now  let  me  tell  you  one  thing,"  said  the  Kentuckiaii, 
as  we  returned  to  the  cabin,  after  seeing  that  fires  were 
started  under  the  boilers.  "  I  has  put  my  all  in  this  ven- 
ture. I  bought  out  the  captain's  half,  ship  and  cargo,  and 
paid  him  the  cash  for 'em — in  gold,  Barnwell ;  all  in 
gold.  If  we  gets  her  through,  I  shall  make  something 
handsome.  If  I  returns  with  cotton,  a  fortune  is  mine-, 
and  I  need  run  no  more  risks." 

"  But  what  does  the  cargo  consist  of?  " 

"  O,  arms,  cloth,  and  some  other  things  what  will  eeU^ 
and  be  useful  to  the  confederates." 

I  could  hardly  prevent  groaning  at  the  position  in  whicfc 
I  found  myself.  I  did  not  want  to  ruin  a  man  who  placed 
so  much  confidence  in  me,  and  yet  I  did  not  like  betraying 
my  country. 

"What's  the  matter?"  asked  the  Kentuckian,  whc 
noticed  that  I  looked  thoughtful. 

"•  Nothing  ;  but  I  am  sorry  that  you  have  placed  aU 
your  eggs  in  one  basket." 

"  But,  if  they  should  hatch,  I  shall  have  some  glorious 
chickens." 

"  Yes,"  I  sighed  ;  "  if  you  are  successful,  the  chickens 
may  pay  you  for  your  trouble." 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  241 

"  Well,  Barnwell," —  and  the  man  extended  his  heavy, 
dark  hand,  —  "I  trust  to  you.  Do  the  best  you  can  for 
me,  and  you  shan't  lose  anything." 

"  Yes  ;  I'll  do  the  best  I  can  for  you,"  I  answered, 
determined  to  trust  to  luck,  and  stand  by  him. 

Just  at  that  moment  the  mate  put  his  head  in  the  cabin,  and 
said  that  a  lady  was  coming  alongside.  I  went  on  deck,  and 
saw  that  it  was  Mrs.  Gowen,  and  her  mulatto  servant  John. 

"  Shall  we  move  as  soon  as  steam  is  up  ?  "  I  asked  Bow- 
mount,  who  came  on  deck  to  see  what  was  going  on. 

"  Yes ;  I'm  all  ready.     Let  her  rip  when  you  are." 

I  gave  the  order  to  man  the  windlass,  and  in  a  short 
time  the  chain  was  all  in,  the  anchor  catted,  and  the  Belle 
steaming  out  of  the  harbor. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

AT  SEA.  —  A  STRANGE  STEAMER.  --  COLONEL  RHETT 
TUBNS  UP  AGAIN.  —  HIS  STORY.  —  A  STERN  CHASE.  —  A 
BUN  FOR  CHARLESTON.  —  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  — 
THE  SIGNALS.  —  A  HAIL.  —  A  CLOSE  SHAVE.  —  A  RUSE. 
—  MAKING  SIGNALS.  —  A  CROSS  ADMIRAL.  —  COLONEL 
RHETT  AGAIN  IN  TROUBLE.  -  -  INSULTING  AN  ADMI- 
RAL, -r  COLONEL  RHETT  EXPLAINS.  —  AN  INVITATION, 
AND  WHAT  CAME  OF  IT. 

DURING  the  evening,  Mrs.  Gowen,  who  had  kept  close  to 
her  state-room,  came  on  deck  to  inhale  the  cool  air,  and 
enjoy  a  few  moments'  conversation  with  the  master  of  the 
vessel.  The  instant  Bowmount  saw  her,  he  prepared  to 
sheer  off,  and  give  her  quiet  possession  of  the  quarter-deek  ; 
but  I  saw  his  intended  movement,  and  stopped  him. 


242  RUNNING   THE  BLOCKADE. 

"  Why  do  you  crowd  on  sail,  and  run  for  a  harbcr,  the 
instant  that  lady  shows  her  signals  ?  "  I  asked. 

"Because,"  was  the  blunt  answer,  "she  don't  care  for 
me.  Yer  see  I  ain't  gentle  enough  to  suit  a  woman  like 
her ;  so  we  had  better  keep  a  good  ways  apart." 

"  But  recollect  you  have  not  told  me  the  mystery  con- 
nected with  the  lady." 

"  Hain't  I  ?  " 

I  thought  the  man  showed  an  inclination  to  chuckle. 

"No,"  I  said,  decidedly.  "You  know  that  you  have 
not." 

"  Well,  the  time  hasn't  arrived  yet  for  me  to  open  my 
mouth.  You  is  contented  as  you  is ;  and  what's  the  use 
of  yer  tryin'  to  pry  into  darkness  ?  " 

Then,  with  a  laugh  that  sounded  a  little  malicious,  the 
Kentuckian  walked  to  the  waist  of  the  steamer,  and 
looked  out  upon  the  waters,  which  sparkled  like  myriads 
of  diamonds  in  a  carpet  of  green. 

Mrs.  Gowen  was  assisted  to  the  poop-deck  by  her  ser- 
vant John,  the  light  mulatto,  who  seemed  as  attentive  as 
a  lover,  and  as  careful  as  a  father.  She  took  a  seat  on  a 
hencoop,  and  then  dismissed  the  slave.  The  fellow  left 
the  quarter-deck  rather  reluctantly ;  and  I  thought  he 
cast  an  ominous  look  at  me  as  he  did  so,  as  though  I  was 
the  cause  of  his  misfortune  in  being  separated  from  a 
beloved  mistress. 

"  You  have  managed  to  keep  yourself  secluded  during 
the  day,"  I  remarked,  taking  a  seat  by  her  side. 

"  I  had  a  motive  in  not  appearing  on  deck,  Barnwell." 

"  "Will  you  confide  it  to  me  ?" 

"  Yes ;  because  I  trust  you.  Has  Mr.  Bowmount  told 
you  one  word  concerning  me,  past  or  present  ?  " 

"  Not  a  syllable  has  he  lisped  respecting  you  or  your 
welfare." 

She  seemed  to  utter  a  sigh  of  relief. 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  £43 

"Yet  you  have  spoken  to  him  about  me  ?  " 

"  Yes,  several  times.  But  he  shakes  his  head,  and 
the  conversation  ends." 

"  I  had  no  idea  that  men  had  so  much  curiosity." 

A  little  later  Mrs.  Go  wen  returned  to  the  cabin.  I 
remained  on  deck  until  past  twelve  ;  and  then-  finding 
that  the  night  was  clear  and  calm,  and  that  nothing  was 
in  sight  except  sand-keys,  I  retired,  and  went  to  sleep, 
and  was  not  disturbed  till  morning.  Then  the  mate 
touched  me  on  the  shoulder,  and  I  was  awake  in  an 
instant. 

"Beg  pardon,  sir,  for  disturbin'  yer  afore  six  bells  ;  but 
there's  a  steamer  jist  off  our  starboard-bow." 

"  Ah  !     What  does  it  look  like  ?  " 

"  A  Yankee,  I  think,  sir.  Looks  like  one  o'  them  'ere 
new  gunboats.  She's  got  steam  up,  but  is  lying  quiet, 
like,  as  though  waiting  for  us." 

"  How  far  are  we  from  land  ?  " 

"  One  of  the  keys  is  about  ten  miles  from  us." 

"  Well,  we  will  run  into  neutral  waters,  and  see  if  we 
can  shake  him  off  in  case  he  is  hostile." 

I  went  on  deck,  and  took  a  look  at  the  stranger.  I  did 
not  have  to  glance  through  the  glass  a  second  time  to  con- 
vince myself  that  I  had  once  more  encountered  the  Stin- 
geree,  and  that  she  was  waiting  for  us.  For  a  moment  1 
hesitated,  and  argued  if  I  had  not  better  give  up,  and 
surrender  the  ship  to  those  authorized  to  make  such 
captures  ;  but  when  I  reflected,  that,  if  I  did,  I  should  no 
longer  oe  useful  as  a  secret  agent,  that  I  should  probably 
lose  my  life  at  the  hands  of  the  enraged  Kentuckian  or 
some  of  the  men,  and  finally  that  I  should  forfeit  all  confi- 
dence on  the  part  of  Mrs.  Gowen,  who  had  learned  to 
look  upon  me  in  the  light  of  a  brother,  —  when  I  thought 
of  all  these  considerations,  I  decided  on  doing  all  that 
remained  in  my  power  to  save  the  vessel.  So  I  altered 


244  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

the  course  of  the  steamer,  intending  to  hug  the  shore,  and 
get  within  neutral  waters,  where  the  Stingeree  would  not 
be  likely  to  venture  ;  but,  even  if  she  did,  I  was  satisfied 
that  the  Belle  could,  by  the  aid  of  her  speed,  keep  out  of 
the  reach  of  long  shot  or  broadside  guns. 

Just  as  I  altered  the  course  of  the  vessel,  the  Stingeree 
hoisted  a  white  flag,  and  fired  a  gun  to  leeward. 

"  That  means,  '  I  want  to  speak  to  you,' "  I  said  to 
Bowmount,  who  had  turned  out,  and  come  on  deck. 

"  He's  a  Yankee,  ain't  he  ?  "  growled  the  Kentuckian. 

"  Yes." 

14  And  he's  got  a  white  flag  flying  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Well,  then  run  towards  the  feller.  I'll  trust  a  Yankee 
with  a  flag  of  truce  where  I  wouldn't  trust  some  other 
people." 

He  might  have  meant  the  confederates  ;  but  he  did  not 
say  so. 

"If  we  put  our  heads  in  the  lion's  mouth,  you  must 
bear  the  responsibility,"  I  remarked.  "  I  will  not." 

"  All  right.  Shucks !  I  ain't  afeared  to  trust  the  Yan- 
kees. They'll  ginerally  keep  their  word.  Run  towards 
him,  and  see  what  he  wants.  I  take  all  the  risk." 

"  You  hear,  Mr.  Thimble,  what  the  owner  says? " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Very  well.  Remember  I'm  not  responsible  for 
accidents." 

The  Kentuckian  laughed,  and  lighted  a  cigar ;  while  I 
gave  orders  for  hoisting  a  white  rag,  and  changed  the 
course  of  the  steamer.  Then  I  slipped  into  my  state-room, 
and  put  on  a  pair  of  white  whiskers,  and  a  wig  that  was 
venerable  on  account  of  the  number  of  gray  hairs  it  con- 
tained. I  had  no  idea  of  allowing  Captain  Switchell  to 
see  my  face,  and  recognize  it. 

"  Hollo  !  "  said  Bowmount.  "  What  do  you  mean  by 
that  rig?" 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  245 

I  gave  an  excuse  that  was  satisfactory ;  and  it  pleased 
the  Kentuckian  so  much,  that  he  resolved  to  disguise  his 
own  face  and  head.  He  found  the  materials  with  which 
to  work  in  some  mysterious  manner :  but  I  asked  no 
questions ;  for  just  then  we  were  alongside  of  the  Stin- 
geree,  and  I  saw  Captain  Switchell  standing  on  the  ham- 
mock nettings,  speaking-trumpet  in  hand. 

"  What  steamer  is  that  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  The  English  steamer  Belle." 

Captain  Switchell  laughed  in  an  ironical  manner,  as  he 
said, — 

"  Of  course  you  are  bound  to  some  neutral  port." 

"  Yes  ;  perhaps  Key  West  or  a  market." 

"  I  thought  so.     Well,  I  have  a  favor  to  ask  of  you." 

"  Will  you  please  to  name  it  ?  "    . 

The  captain  did  not  recognize  my  voice  or  form,  and 
neither  did  the  officers  nor  crew,  who  were  looking  at  us 
with  wishful  glances,  as  though  mentally  calculating  how 
much  the  Belle  and  cargo  were  worth  in  a  prize  court, 
where  the  marshal  would  not  seek  for  two  thirds  of  the 
net  proceeds,  and  his  assistants  the  other  third. 

"  Well,  you  see  I  have  on  board  a  confederate  gentle- 
man, who  was  captured  the  other  day  in  a  steamer.  He  is 
a  civilian,  and  a  feeble  old  man,  not  capable  of  harming 
any  one.  I  have  concluded  to  send  him  to  some  Southern 
port,  and  I  really  wish  that  you  would  help  him.  He  will 
pay  for  his  passage,  and  not  only  that,  but  bless  you  for 
doing  a  deed  of  charity ;  for  he  is  anxious  to  join  his 
friends,  and  die  in  the  bosom  of  his  family." 

"  Let  him  come,"  said  Bowmount,  who  could  not  with- 
stand an  appeal  to  the  heart.  "  Let  the  old  fool  come 
on  board.  We  will  give  him  a  passage.  It  won't  hurt  us, 
and  will  do  the  old  man  some  good.  Tell  them  to  bundle 
him  on  board;  and  be  in  a  hurry  about  it." 

"We'll  take  him,  captain,"  I  said;  "but  I  hope  you 
17 


246  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

won't  be  compelled  to  receive  him  again  before  we  find  a 
port  to  suit  us." 

"  I  shall  do  what  I  can  after  you  are  at  a  proper  distance 
from  us." 

"  What  do  you  call  a  proper  distance  ?  " 

"  Say  ten  miles  ;  just  twice  as  far  as  you  were  from  us 
when  I  signalled  you." 

"  That  is  satisfactory.     We  have  a  pair  of  heels." 

"  And  so  have  we,"  remarked  Captain  Switchell,  in  a 
significant  tone.  "  We  are  not  fast ;  but  there  are  few 
vessels  that  can  show  us  their  sterns." 

I  made  no  reply  to  the  remark.  The  boatswain  of  the 
Stingeree  piped  his  shrill  whistle,  the  first  cutter  was 
lowered  with  the  rapidity,  precision,  and  care  that  dis- 
tinguishes man-of-war  life,  and  then  I  saw  an  aged  man 
pass  down  the  steamer's  side,  and  enter  the  boat. 

It  was  cast  off,  and  pulled  for  the  Belle.  Just  at  this 
moment,  Mrs.  Gowen  sent  word  that  she  wanted  to  see 
me  ;  but  it  was  simply  to  ask  a  question  or  two,  and  to 
chat  for  a  minute  on  some  indifferent  subject ;  and  then  I 
returned  to  the  deck,  and  was  in  due  form  introduced  by 
the  Kentuckian  to  my  new  passenger.  I  was  somewhat 
astonished  to  see  before  me  Virginia's  favorite  son,  the 
gallant  Colonel  Rhett,  more  gray  and  decrepit  than 
ever. 

If  I  had  seen  the  President  of  the  United  States,  I 
could  not  have  been  more  surprised  than  I  was  to  meet 
face  to  face  with  Colonel  Rhett,  whose  right  eye  still  bore 
traces  of  the  blow  which  had  sent  him  to  the  deck  on  the 
night  we  cut  out  the  Spitfire. 

However,  if  I  was  astonished,  the  colonel  was  not ;  and 
for  a  moment  I  wondered  at  it ;  but  then  I  recollected 
that  I  was  disguised  with  beard  and  wig;  so  it  wan  not 
surprising  he  did  noi  reuugnize  me  immediately. 

"  Captain,"  the  old  fellow  said,  "  I  am  prcud  to   .hink 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  247 

that  I  once  more  stand  beneath  the  flag  of  the  free  —  old 
England's  Cross  ;  which,  next  to  the  confederate  bunting, 
is  the  proudest  in  the  world." 

"  Shucks !  what  gammon  !  "  interrupted  Bowmount. 
"  But  you  allers  was  some  on  the  highfalutin,  colonel,  like 
most  of  you  fellers  from  the  fust  families  of  Old  Virginny." 

"You  know  me,  then?"  asked  the  astonished  old 
scamp. 

"  I  should  rather  think  I  did,"  was  the  reply  of  the 
Kentuckian. 

As  he  spoke,  he  threw  off  his  false  hair  and  beard. 

"  O  I  "  said  the  colonel,  in  a  tone  of  great  surprise.  "  I 
guess  I'll  return  to  the  Stingeree.  I  won't  trespass  on 
your  kindness." 

It  was  too  late.  As  soon  as  the  colonel  touched  the 
deck,  the  engineer  had  put  on  steam,  and  we  were  head- 
ing on  our  course,  already  a  mile  from  the  man-of-war, 
which  still  remained  quiet,  with  the  flag  of  truce  flying, 
waiting  until  we  were  ten  miles  apart,  as  was  promised, 
before  pursuit  was  commenced. 

The  Kentuckian  gave  a  hearty  and  uproarious  laugh. 

"  Why,  you  old  fool,"  he  said,  "  you  is  as  safe  here  as 
on  board  one  of  Uncle  Sam's  crafts.  What  more  do  you 
want  ?  We'll  land  you  in  a  Southern  port  in  less  than 
three  days." 

But  the  colonel  looked  far  from  being  satisfied,  and 
glanced  at  me  most  suspiciously,  as  though  he  feared 
danger  in  my  quarter  ;  so,  not  to  keep  him  in  suspense,  I 
just  threw  off  my  disguise  ;  and,  when  he  saw  who  I  was, 
he  felt  worse  than  ever. 

"  You  vile  scoundrel !  "  I  remarked,  in  a  quiet  tone, 
"  do  you  remember  heading  a  gang  of  ruffians  on  the 
beach  at  Nassau,  and  making  an  assault  on  me?" 

"  There  must  be  some  mistake  here,"  the  old  man  said, 
with  the  most  unblushing  impudence.  "  If  you  will 


248  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

recollect  for  a  moment,  you  will  call  to  mind  that  I  was 
badly  injured  in  endeavoring  to  assist  you.  I  was  kicked 
very  severely  in  the  stomach." 

"  Yes ;  I  did  that  when  you  urged  on  your  party,  and 
attempted  to  assist  it." 

"  I  am  sorry  you  labor  under  such  a  great  mistake,"  the 
colonel  continued,  as  bold  as  a  lion,  yet  appearing  as  honest 
as  a  man  could  appear  when  he  knew  he  was  telling  a  lie. 
"  I  attempted  to  help  you  all  I  could  ;  and,  in  doing  so,  I 
was  taken  prisoner,  and  carried  on  board  the  Spitfire." 

"  What  a  romance  !  "  I  remarked,  in  a  sneering  tone. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  was  the  reply,  quite  unmoved.  "  But  the 
most  wonderful  thing  is  yet  to  come.  I  was  thrown  into 
a  boat,  and  carried  on  board  the  Spitfire ;  and,  when  she 
was  just  ready  to  up  anchor,  a  party  of  Yankees  cut  her 
out,  and  made  off  with  her.  But  I  fought  them  as  well 
as  I  could ;  and  you  see  the  result  in  this  black  eye.  I  was 
floored  by  a  blow  ;  and,  when  I  returned  to  consciousness, 
we  were  many  miles  out  of  the  harbor." 

"  Go  on.     What  next  ?  " 

"  Well,  sir,  the  next  morning  a  Yankee  gunboat  ran 
alongside,  and  threatened  to  sink  us  unless  we  surrendered. 
The  threat  wasn't  repeated  ;  for  the  flag  came  down,  and 
the  Stingeree  took  possession.  I  don't  say  that  it  was  a 
contrived  plan,  but  I  think  so." 

"  And  l&w  did  you  manage  to  persuade  the  captain  of 
the  Stingeree  that  you  were  of  no  account  ?  " 

"  By  concealing  my  military  rank,  and  relating  how  I 
had  left  my  daughter  in  Nassau  without  a  lawful  protector, 
and  with  but  little  money  to  support  her  in  my  absence. 
Captain  S  witchell,  although  he  is  a  Yankee,  has  a  heart 
that  can  feel  for  the  misfortunes  of  others.  He  saiv  that 
I  was  eager  to  join  my  sweet  child,  and  knew  that  I  could 
do  so  by  taking  passage  on  board  of  some  swift  blockade- 
runner.  The  Stingeree  has  no  idea  of  touching  at  Nas- 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  249 

sau  for  some  time  to  come,  fearful  that  an  investigation 
would  be  ordered." 

"  Well,  colonel,  you  can  see  as  well  as  any  man  I  ever 
saw.  But  we  are  now  quits.  Go  and  get  your  breakfast, 
and  behave  yourself  hereafter." 

As  soon  as  breakfast  was  over,  Mrs.  Gowen  made  prep- 
arations to  retire  to  her  state-room,  while  the  male  portion 
of  the  passengers  lighted  their  cigars,  and  went  on  deck. 

The  Stingeree  had  not  gained  on  us.  In  fact,  I  thought 
that  we  were  dropping  her ;  and  in  the  course  of  an 
hour  our  more,  this  surmise  proved  correct.  The  entire 
hull  of  the  gunboat  disappeared  from  the  horizon,  and 
then  all  that  was  left  to  mark  the  place  where  a  steamer 
still  ploughed  through  the  waters  of  the  channel  was  a 
line  of  dark  smoke  that  floated  upwards,  and  assumed 
fantastic  shapes  as  the  light  wind  carried  it  leeward. 

Of  course  Bowmount  chuckled  at  this  evidence  of  the 
superiority  of  the  Belle.  He  even  asked  the  Virginian  to 
drink  whiskey  —  an  invitation  that  was  accepted  with 
most  wonderful  alacrity.  So  bottles  and  tumblers  were 
brought  on  deck,  and  a  g&y  time  the  Kentuckian  had, 
bluffing  the  colonel  when  he  was  disposed  to  enlarge  on 
his  valuable  services  at  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  talk- 
ing sharp  when  he  abused  the  Yankees. 

AVe  were  well  through  the  North-east  Channel,  and  had 
left  Great  Auaco  far  astern,  before  we  lost  all  sight  of  the 
Stingeree,  and  were  alone  upon  the  ocean,  steaming  along 
at  the  rate  of  twelve  knots  an  hour,  and  calculating  how 
soon  we  should  be  in  the  midst  of  the  blockading  vessels, 
which  were  as  thick  as  locusts  in  Egypt  off  Charleston  and 
Savannah.  It  was  night  when  we  ran  for  the  harbor  of 
the  former  place. 

At  dark  I  put  all  the  lights  out  except  the  one  in  the 
binnacle,  and  shaded  that  one  in  such  a  manner  that  its 
rays  could  not  be  seen.  The  engine-room  was  covered 


250  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

with  blankets,  the  steam  was  raised  to  its  highest  point 
and  with  a  full  pressure  we  dashed  towards  the  land. 

Bowmount  was  on  deck  with  me,  and  so  was  Mrs. 
Gowen  ;  but  the  Virginia  colonel  did  not  seem  inclined  to 
leave  his  state-room,  while  John  kept  out  of  sight. 

The  Kentuckian  did  not  appear  in  the  least  excited,  and, 
for  a  wonder,  did  not  touch  liquor.  He  was  more  subdued 
than  I  ever  saw  him,  while  the  lady  was  inclined  to  be  a 
little  hysterical,  calling  the  Yankees  hard  names,  and 
uttering  little  gasps  as  she  hoped  we  should  escape  their 
vigilance. 

Two  hours  passed,  and  still  there  was  no  sign  of  the 
blockaders.  We  were  going  through  the  water  at  the 
rate  of  fifteen  miles  an  hour  ;  for  I  judged  it  best  to  put 
on  nearly  all  speed,  and  pass  the  gunboats  with  a  dash,  if 
it  were  a  possible  thing. 

I  began  to  congratulate  myself  upon  the  probability 
that  we  should  meet  none  of  the  Union  cruisers,  when  a 
rocket  was  sent  up  from  some  vigilant  gunboat  about  two 
miles  off  our  starboard  bow.  It  was  green  and  red,  sig- 
nifying that  something  suspicious  was  in  sight,  and  to  be 
on  the  lookout  for  it. 

Hardly  had  the  bright  stars  grown  dim,  and  the  stick 
which  guided  the  rocket  struck  the  water,  than  a  second 
one  was  thrown  to  the  air ;  but  this  one  came  from  our 
larboard  bow,  and  was  a  significant  reminder  that  Uncle 
Sam's  men  were  on  the  alert. 

Still  we  steamed  on  ;  but  it  seemed  as  though  it  was  to 
certain  capture  ;  for  just  ahead  of  us,  right  in  our  course, 
illuminating  the  water  for  many  fathoms,  was  a  burning 
blue-light,  revealing  the  grim  hull  and  battery  of  a  sloop 
of  war. 

To  go  on  was  certain  capture  or  destruction ;  for  it  was 
evident  that  the  officers  of  the  national  vessels  saw  us, 
and  suspected  our  mission ;  for  hardly  had  the  blue-light 


RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE.  251 

burned  out,  than  three  lanterns  appeared  in  the  steamer's 
rigging,  in  the  form  of  a  triangle,  —  a  red  one  at  the  top, 
and  a  white  and  a  green  one  at  the  bottom. 

"  What  does  that  signal  mean  ?  "  whispered  the  Ken- 
tuckian. 

"  It  asks,  as  plainly  as  words  can  express  the  question, 
4  Who  are  you  ?  ' 

I  altered  the  course  of  the  vessel,  and  headed  towards 
Folly  Island,  hoping  to  run  into  Light-house  Inlet,  and 
find  shelter  under  the  guns  of  the  batteries  which  the 
Charleston  soldiers  had  erected  all  along  the  shores  of 
Morris  Island.  We  shut  off  some  of  our  steam,  and 
moved  along  as  silently  as  possible  ;  but  our  paddle- 
wheels  would  beat  the  water ;  and  as  the  night  was  calm, 
the  noise  could  be  heard  for  some  distance,  and  I  feared 
would  lead  to  our  detection. 

For  a  few  minutes  we  kept  on  our  new  course  ;  but  the 
gunboat  that  we  were  edging  away  from  had  no  intention 
of  letting  us  rest,  or  allowing  us  to  slip  by  in  peace.  All 
at  once  we  could  see  showers  of  sparks  and  black  smoke 
issue  from  her  smoke-pipe  ;  and  then  there  was  a  flash,  and 
the  deep  report  of  a  Parrott  gun.  The  shot  struck  the 
water  some  ten  or  twenty  fathoms  from  us,  and  sent  it 
foaming  in  the  air  like  a  waterspout. 

"That  fellow  means  business."  muttered  Bowmount, 
lighting  a  fresh  cigar. 

"  Yes,  confound  him  !  he  will  wake  up  the  whole  fleet." 

"  Steamer  ahead,"  shouted  the  lookout  on  the  topgal- 
lant-forecastle. 

I  made  a  signal  to  the  engineer  to  stop  the  engines  ; 
but  we  were  close  upon  a  black,  heavy  hull  before  we 
could  slacken  our  speed.  We  were  so  near,  in  fact,  that 
we  could  make  out  a  long  row  of  ports,  and  by  the  aid  of 
our  glasses  see  the  muzzles  of  some  black-looking  guns. 

"  It's  a  ship  at  anchor,"  whispered  the  mate.     "  The 


252  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

fellow  is  not  awake ;  and  I'm  glad  enough  of  it,  for  he 
carries  some  mighty  ugly-looking  barkers." 

In  thinking  the  lookouts  were  asleep,  the  mate  was  mis- 
taken ;  for  hardly  had  he  concluded,  than  a  sharp  hail 
was  heard  from  the  quarter-deck  of  the  anchored  vessel 

"  What  steamer  is  that  ?  " 

As  the  question  was  asked,  a  dozen  replies  passed 
through  my  mind  ;  for  on  one  of  them  depended  the  fate 
of  the  steamer  and  all  those  on  board. 

Before  I  answered,  I  took  another  look  at  the  anchored 
vessel,  and  rapidly  formed  an  idea  of  what  she  was.  It 
was  a  sailing  frigate,  large  and  comfortable  — just  such  a 
vessel  as  the  admiral  of  the  station  would  select  as  his 
home  as  long  as  the  weather  was  such  that  he  would  not 
have  to  get  under  way  to  keep  from  the  shore,  sending 
out  the  steamers  to  do  the  light  and  heavy  work,  while 
the  commander  took  his  all-night  in,  and  made  himself 
generally  comfortable  over  his  claret  and  whiskey-punch. 

All  these  thoughts  passed  through  my  brain  very  rap- 
idly ;  but  even  then,  before  I  had  time  to  answer  the 
pointed  hail,  there  came  another  sharp  and  quick,  — 

"  Steamer,  ahoy  !     What  steamer  is  that  ?  " 

And  with  the  words  there  was  a  flashing  of  lights  on 
the  deck  of  the  frigate  ;  and  then  I  could  hear  the  alarm 
sprung,  and  the  sudden  roll  of  a  drum  beating  to  quarters. 

I  did  not  answer  the  pointed  question,  and  the  one 
that  my  interrogator  was  so  anxious  to  know  ;  for,  as  the 
lanterns  took  the  form  of  a  private  signal,  I  bellowed 
back,  — 

"  I  was  sent  to  inform  the  admiral  that  a  blockade- 
runner  has  made  her  appearance,  and  attempted  to  run  in. 
We  may  have  headed  her  off,  but  are  not  certain.  The 
Straddlebug  (I  did  not  know  but  she  might  be  on  the 
station,  as  I  had  heard  that  she  was  to  sail  for  Charleston) 
"  got  a  shot  at  her  ;  but  I  don't  think  it  took  effect." 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  253 

"  Why  the  deuce  don't  you  answer  the  private  signal, 
instead  of  chattering  like  a  marine  ?  "  cried  the  officer  of 
the  deck,  who  was  in  a  rage  at  the  idea  of  being  so  un- 
ceremoniously disturbed  in  his  nap. 

"  Because  I  supposed  that  you  cared  more  for  the  news 
than  you  did  for  signals.  We  have  signalized  the  flag- 
ship for  the  last  hour,  and  deuce  of  a  reply  could  we  ob- 
tain. Captain "  (here  I  mentioned  a  name  that  I 

knew  the  officer  could  not  understand)  "  thought  you 
were  all  asleep,  or  else  gone  ashore  for  a  lark." 

"  We  are  much  obliged  to  Captain .  What  name 

did  you  say?" 

This  question  was  asked  in  a  deep-toned  voice,  calm 
and  powerful,  as  though  the  owner  knew  his  position,  and 
was  bound  to  be  respected  by  all  under  his  command. 

It  was  the  admiral  of  the  fleet,  who  had  turned  out  to 
see  what  was  the  matter,  and  had  taken  the  subject  of 
hailing  into  his  own  hands. 

"Captain ." 

Once  more  I  pronounced  a  name  that  the  deuce  couldn't 
have  understood,  even  if  he  were  familiar  with  both  the 
Russian  and  the  Polish  languages. 

"  O,  yes !  "  responded  the  admiral,  who  did  not  care 
to  spend  time  in  asking  more  questions.  "  Request  the 
captain  to  see  me  in  the  morning.  I  shall  have  some 
business  with  him." 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir.  I  will  tell  him.  Have  you  any  further 
orders  ?  " 

For  a  moment  there  was  no  answer.  They  were  pre- 
cious moments  to  me,  and  J  dreaded  the  silence  that  pre- 
vailed. At  last  a  voice  abruptly  asked, — 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  waving  your  lanterns  in  that 
manner  ?  " 

Now,  I  had  not  the  slightest  idea  what  was  meant  by 
the  waving  of  lanterns  on  board  the  Belle  ;  but  I  knew 


RUNNING    THE    BLOCKADE. 

that  it  would  not  answer  to  show  my  ignorance  to  an 
admiral ;  and,  as  bold  as  a  lion,  I  replied,  — 

"  It  is  the  signal  which  I  agreed  to  make  to  the  fleet  as 
soon  as  I  had  ascertained  that  the  blockade-runner  had 
not  passed  this  way." 

"  Then  why  in  the  fiend's  name  don't  you  signalize  in  a 
shipshape  manner,  and  not  in  that  blundering  style?" 
roared  the  admiral,  who  began  to  lose  his  temper  under 
the  combined  influence  of  loss  of  sleep,  and  the  prospect 
of  losing  some  prize  money  by  the  escape  of  the  blockade- 
runner. 

"  I'll  see  that  it  don't  happen  again,  sir,"  I  answered, 
in  the  faint  hope  that  a  soft  answer  would  turn  away 
wrath. 

"  Why,  sir,  you  are  doing  it  all  the  time,"  yelled  the 
admiral,  on  whom  meekness  was  entirely  thrown  away. 
"  What  do  you  mean,  sir  ?  " 

I  took  time  to  glance  over  the  deck,  and  to  run  for- 
ward as  far  as  the  waist,  near  the  house,  in  the  hope  of 
discovering  the  cause  of  the  admiral's  displeasure. 

For  a  few  moments  I  saw  nothing.  Then,  just  as  I  was 
about  to  return  to  the  quarter-deck,  and  attend  to  the 
hailing  department,  I  saw  Colonel  Rhett  issue  from  the 
house  used  by  the  men  as  their  sleeping-quarters,  and 
wave  a  lighted  lantern  over  his  head. 

"  You  old  scoundrel,  what  do  you  mean  ? "  I  cried, 
seizing  him  by  the  nape  of  his  neck,  and  throwing  him  to 
the  deck,  while  at  the  same  time  I  jerked  his  lantern  from 
his  hand,  and  extinguished  it. 

Bowmount  heard  the  scuffle,  slight  as  it  was,  and  has- 
tened towards  me. 

"  What  is  the  matter  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Matter  enough,"  I  answered.  "  This  double-faced  trai- 
tor "  —  and  I  shook  the  colonel  until  his  teeth  chattered 
in  his  head  —  "  has  been  making  signals  to  the  frigate." 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  205 

"  Overboard  with  him,"  the  savage  Kentuckiun  cried. 
"  Hang  him,  don't  have  any  mercy  on  the  traitor." 

"  What  is  the  meaning  of  this,  gentlemen  ?  "  demanded 
the  colonel.  "  What  have  I  done  ?  " 

I  did  not  have  a  chance  to  reply  to  that  interrogation ; 
for  just  then  came  a  sharp  hail  from  the  flagship,  and  it 
needed  my  attention. 

"  Give  him  to  me,"  whispered  Bowmount  "  I'll  settle 
his  coffee.  Shucks  !  don't  I  know  what  to  do  with  just 
sich  vipers  ?  " 

"  You  won't  kill  him  ?  "  I  asked. 

Bowmount  laughed  in  a  low  and  threatening  tone. 

"  If  this  'ere  ship  is  captured,  I'll  give  his  carcass  to  the 
fishes  jest  as  sure  as  I'm  a  man.  If  it  is  the  last  thing  I 
does  in  this  world,  I'll  have  that  satisfaction  out  of  the 
varmint." 

"  For  Heaven's  sake,  gentlemen,"  begged  the  colonel, 
"spare  my  life  on  account  of  my  daughter.  I've  done 
nothing  to  merit  this  treatment.  I'm  one  of  the  members 
of  the  first  Virginia  families,  and  a  rebel  clear  through  to 
the  back-bone." 

"  Steamer,  ahoy  !  "  roared  the  admiral  from  the  flag- 
ship, in  a  towering  rage  at  the  idea  of  not  securing  prompt 
answers. 

"  Go  and  speak  to  the  old  nanny-goat,"  cried  Bow- 
rnoiint,  "  or  he'll  butt  his  jolly  old  head  agin'  somethin' ; 
you  see  if  he  don't." 

"  No  violence,"  I  whispered,  as  I  relinquished  my  hold 
of  the  prostrate  man. 

"  All  right.     Shucks  1  don't  be  afeard  of  me.' 

I  reached  the  quarter-deck  just  in  time  to  hear  the 
admiral  roar,  — 

"  What  do  you  mean,  sir,  by  not  answering  me  ?  What 
L:  the  trouble  there  ?  " 

"  There  is  no  trouble,  sir.     I  saw  a  commotion  on  the 


256  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

outer  station,  and  I  thought  the  blockade-runner  might 
be  captured.     I  can't  make  out  by  the  aid  of  my  glass." 

By  this  time  we  had  drifted  astern  of  the  ship,  and 
towards  the  shore;  for  the  wind  was  blowing  in  that 
direction.  We  were  just  in  a  position  most  favorable 
to  prevent  receiving  a  shot  or  broadside  from  the  frigate 
in  case  she  should  discover  our  true  character.  I  longed 
to  give  the  engineer  the  signal  to  start,  aud  make  a  run 
for  it,  but  feared  that  an  unlucky  shot  would  disable  us 
before  we  could  get  out  of  range,  or  hide  ourselves  in  the 
darkness. 

Just  as  I  was  thinking  of  these  things,  I  heard  the 
sound  of  paddle-wheels,  and  then  a  dark  mass  hove  in 
sight,  and  signalled  with  lanterns  that  she  was  all  right, 
and  desired  communication  with  the  admiral. 

'•  Flagship,  ahoy  !  "  roared  the  new  comer. 

"  Yes  ;  what  is  it  now  ?  " 

"  I  have  been  sent  to  inform  you  that  a  blockade-run- 
ner has  attempted  to  enter  the  port.  She  passed  some  of 
the  fleet,  and  disappeared." 

"  How  many  more  steamers  are  to  be  sent  to  me  with 
the  same  information  ?  "  growled  the  admiral,  who  began 
to  think  that  all  of  his  captains  were  mad  or  drunk.  "  If 
some  of  you  had  remained  on  the  outer  station,  and  looked 
as  hard  for  the  blockade-runner  as  you  have  for  the  flag- 
ship, we  should  all  have  been  a  few  thousand  dollars 
richer  by  this  time.'' 

This  was  the  peculiar  way  which  the  admiral  had  of 
"  bearing  down "  on  those  under  his  command  when 
things  had  not  gone  to  please  him. 

"  I  was  not  aware  that  another  had  been  despatched 
to  convey  the  news,"  tartly  responded  the  captain  of  the 
steamer. 

"  No,  {  suppose  not.  But  if  you  had  kept  a  bright 
lookout,  you  would  have  brought  me  a  prize  instead  of 
bad  news." 


RUNNING   THE  BLOCKADE.  257 

-  "There's  arrogance  for  you,"  muttered t Mrs.  Gowen, 
who  had  stood  by  my  side  all  through  the  hailing. 

"  It's  about  time  to  move  from  this  'ere  location,  or  it 
will  be  ter  hot  for  us,"  muttered  the  Kentuckian,  who, 
having  disposed  of  his  prisoner,  the  colonel,  was  now 
ready  to  join  me  in  all  that  related  to  the  success  of  the 
project. 

"  I  know  it.  In  a  few  minutes  the  admiral  will  make 
his  quarter-deck  too  hot  to  hold  its  officers." 

We  were  about  forty  fathoms  from  the  stern  of  the 
frigate,  just  near  enough  to  hear  all  that  passed,  and 
to  understand  when  it  was  time  to  think  of  real  danger. 

The  chief  engineer  of  the  Belle  was  near  me,  ready  to 
communicate  with  his  subordinates  in  the  engine-room  at 
the  least  sign  from  his  superior. 

"  Can  you  set  the  wheels  in  motion,  so  they  won't 
attract  attention,  and  allow  us  to  draw  ahead  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  I  think  I  can." 

"  Do  so,  then  ;  but  be  careful  how  you  work." 

The  engineer  left  me  to  communicate  the  orders,  and  I 
once  more  turned  my  attention  to  the  admiral  and  his 
captain.  The  former  was  pacing  his  quarter-deck,  and 
wondering  if  he  should  utter  some  more  sarcastic  re- 
marks, or  let  the  latter  up. 

All  at  once  it  entered  the  wise  noddle  of  the  com- 
mander of  the  fleet,  that  he  had  not  treated  the  captain 
of  the  first  steamer  (meaning  the  one  I  commanded)  to  a 
little  sensation  in  the  way  of  sharp  words  ;  and  he  pre- 
pared to  give  me  a  dose. 

"  Steamer,  ahoy  !  "  he  yelled,  just  as  our  paddle-wheels 
commenced  moving. 

"  Ahoy,  the  fleet,  sir  !  " 

"  What  in  the  fiend's  name  are  you  doing  there  ?  " 

"Waiting  for  orders,  sir." 

"  Waiting  for  orders  !  "  in  a  sneering   tone.     "  Don't 


258  RUNNING    THE    BLOCKADE. 

you  know  that  your  services  are  needed  on  the  outer  sta- 
tion? I  can  take  care  of  the  inner  station." 

"  I'm  glad  to  hear  it,  for  it  is  all  news  to  me."  I  re- 
torted; for  I  could  not  help  taking  the  Tartar  down  a 
little. 

"  Hey  ?    What's  that  ?  "  was  the  cry. 

We  were  moving  off  in  a  slow  but  precious  sure  man- 
ner, the  paddles  making  but  few  revolutions,  yet  enough 
to  obtain  steerage-way.  We  were  headed,  owing  to  the 
drift,  direct  for  Sullivan's  Island,  where  several  batteries 
were  erected,  and  where  I  could  find  shelter  in  case  we 
were  pursued. 

Even  as  the  admiral  spoke,  his  ship  began  to  grow  dim 
and  indistinct,  a  black  speck  on  the  water. 

Before  I  could  return  a  suitable  answer,  the  Kentuck- 
ian  took  the  words  from  my  mouth,  and  yelled,  — 

"Say,  old  fuss-and-feathers,  do  you  want  to  see  a 
blockade-runner  ?  " 

There  was  a  moment's  indignant  silence  on  board  the 
flagship,  and  in  the  mean  time  I  had  a  chance  to  remon- 
strate with  Bowmount. 

"  For  Heaven's  sake,  keep  quiet  till  we  are  out  of  dan- 
ger. A  few  minutes  more,  and  we  shall  be  all  right." 

"  Come  on  board,  and  report  yourself  under  arrest," 
roared  the  admiral. 

"  I'll  see  you  hung  first,"  bellowed  the  Kentuckian, 
who,  to  save  even  ship  and  cargo,  could  no  longer  keep 
still. 

"Put  on  all  steam,"  I  cried  to  the  engineer.  "Port 
your  helm  a  little.  We  will  still  keep  in  the  wake  of  the 
frigate." 

The  vessel  sprang  through  the  water  under  the  in- 
fluence of  steam  ;  but  before  we  could  vanish  from  sight, 
two  stern  guns  were  brought  to  bear  on  us,  and  two 
thirty-two  poind  shots  were  sent  flying  over  our  heads. 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  259 

"  Let  her  rip,  old  addle-head,"  roared  the  Kentuckian ; 
and  with  this  parting  salute  we  vanished  from  the  sight 
of  the  frigate. 

Then  we  altered  our  course,  so  as  to  keep  out  of  the 
range  of  the  guns,  and,  with  a  full  head  of  steam,  ran  for 
Sullivan's  Island,  while  the  admiral's  ship  kept  up  a  run- 
ning fire  for  five  minutes,  in  the  hope  of  hitting  us.  But 
they  were  somewhat  disappointed ;  for  we  felt  our  way  in, 
and  by  private  signals  were  enabled  to  anchor  under  a 
confederate  battery,  where  we  remained  till  daylight. 

"  O,  Mr.  Barnwell,"  cried  Mrs.  Gowen,  taking  both  of 
my  hands,  the  next  morning,  as  soon  as  she  knew  that  we 
were  safe,  "  how  can  I  thank  you  for  your  coolness  in 
escaping  from  those  mean  Yankees  !  I'll  make  a  hero  of 
you  by  the  manner  in  which  I  shall  report  your  exploits." 

"  In  the  name  of  Heaven,  don't  do  that !  "  I  cried,  more 
and  more  convinced  that  I  should  be  ruined  through  the 
injudicious  kindness  of  friends.  "  Let  what  I  have  done 
pass  without  special  notice." 

Just  at  this  moment  the  Kentuckian  appeared  on  deck 
with  the  Virginian,  Colonel  Rhett,  who  had  passed  the 
night  in  irons,  and  in  the  run  of  the  steamer,  where  he 
had  no  chance  to  do  mischief,  being  waited  upon  and 
guarded  by  John,  the  slave. 

The  representative  of  the  first  of  Virginia's  families 
looked  a  little  the  worse  for  the  treatment  he  had  received 
at  my  hands,  and  at  the  hands  of  Bowmount.  He  exhib- 
ited marks  on  his  face  that  told  of  rough  usage ;  for  the 
enraged  Kentuckian  had  taken  the  opportunity  to  hit  him 
once  or  twice,  as  soon  as  I  had  gone  aft  to  attend  to  my 
duty  the  night  before. 

"  There  he  is,  Barnwell,"  said  the  Kentuckian.  "  What 
shall  we  do  with  him  ?  He  won't  make  no  more  sig- 
nals to  the  Yankee  fleet,  —  not  if  I  has  my  way,  he 
won't." 


260  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  So  help  me  God,"  the  c'oloncl  cried,  "  I  was  not  mak 
ing  signals  to  the  fleet." 

He  looked  and  spoke  as  though  he  meant  the  truth. 
There  was  an  air  of  sincerity  on  the  man's  face  that  was 
almost  convincing. 

"  What  in  the  fiend's  name  did  you  mean  by  waving  a 
lantern?"  I  demanded,  in  a  stern  tone. 

"  I  was  not  aware  that  I  was  waving  it,"  was  the  con- 
fident answer. 

"  How  came  you  with  the  lantern,  anyhow  ?  "  the  Ken- 
tuckian  asked.  "  Didn't  you  hear  the  orders  for  all  lights 
to  be  dowsed  ?  " 

"  No,  I  didn't." 

The  man  looked  us  square  in  the  eyes  as  he  answered. 
I  began  to  think  of  his  daughter,  and  to  wonder  if  he  was 
not  innocent  of  evil  intentions. 

"  What  were  you  doing  with  the  lantern?  "  I  demand- 
ed. "  If  you  were  not  signalizing  the  enemy,  how  did  it 
happen  that  you  had  a  light  ?  " 

"  I  can  explain  all  in  a  few  words,  sir ;  because  I  see 
that  I  am  in  as  bad  a  predicament  as  I  was  at  Bull  Run, 
when  I  cut  my  way  through  —  " 

"  O,  hang  Bull  Run  !  "  snarled  the  Kentuckian.  "  Go 
on  with  the  story.  Shucks  !  let's  hear  how  you  got  hold 
of  the  lantern." 

"  In  a  moment,  sir.  I  was  in  the  cabin,  suffering  in  my 
mind  for  fear  the  Yankees  would  capture  us,  when  John, 
the  servant  of  Mrs.  Gowen,  —  the  nigger,  you  know, — 
came  to  me,  and  said  he'd  lost  his  watch,  and  he  feared 
some  of  the  poor  white  trash  for'ard  had  taken  it;  and 
would  I  oblige  him  so  much  as  to  take  the  lantern,  and 
hold  it  while  he  searched  the  house  on  deck.  Without 
thinking  a  moment,  I  said  that  I  would;  so  away  we 
went  on  our  mission." 

"  Did  you  find  the  watch  ?.". 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  261 

"  Yes :  we  found  it  hanging  on  a  nail  at  the  head  of  the 
cook's  bunk  ;  and  then  John  recollected  that  he  had  lent 
it  to  the  cook  to  boil  some  eggs ;  so  there  was  no  theft, 
after  all." 

"  But  how  happened  it  that  you  waved  the  lantern  ?  " 
I  demanded,  "  as  though  signalizing  the  fleet  ?  " 

"  I  was  not  aware  that  I  was  doing  an  injury.  I  was  so 
much  amused,  that  I  laughed  ;  and  between  my  laughing 
and  the  rolling  of  the  ship,  I  suppose  the  lantern  moved 
back  and  forth,  and  up  arid  down." 

"  Eh  ?  "  sighed  Bowmount,  "  you  is  bound  to  trick  ud, 
arter  all.  But  we'll  see  what  John  says.  Come  on  deck, 
you  specimen  of  milk  and  'lasses,  and  let's  hear  what  you 
has  to  say  on  the  subject." 

John  came  from  the  cabin,  and  appeared  surprised  at 
the  summons. 

"  John,"  said  the  Kentuckian,  "  I  feels  good-natured, 
and  wouldn't  hurt  a  mouse  this  'ere  mornin' ;  but  by  Jove, 
if  you  goes  to  come  any  of  your  dodges,  I'll  hang  yei 
like  a  dog.  I  means  it  now.  I'm  not  to  be  trifled 
with." 

John  did  not  look  in  the  least  alarmed.  He  listened  to 
the  threats  without  flinching,  or  appearing  apprehensive 
of  injury.  Once  he  glanced  at  the  colonel,  but  the  Ken- 
tuckian snapped  him  up  for  it. 

"  You  jist  keep  yer  eyes  fixed  on  me  till  I  gets  through 
with  yer,  or  I'll  make  that  back  of  yourn  a  little  sorer 
than  it  ever  was." 

"  I  "will  answer  all  your  questions,  sir,"  John  replied, 
and  looked  full  at  the  Kentuckian,  as  though  he  knew  the 
man,  and  knew  he  was  not  to  be  played  with. 

"  Did  you  ask  Colonel  Rhett  to  hold  a  lantern  for  you, 
last  night  ?  "  Bowmount  demanded. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Foi  what  purpose  ?  " 
18 


262  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  To  help  me  search  for  a  watch  that  I  thought  had 
been  stolen  from  me." 

"  That  will  do.  Return  to  your  duties,"  and  the  Ken- 
tuckian  dismissed  the  slave. 

"  You  see  that  I  was  right,"  exclaimed  the  Virginian, 
in  a  tone  of  triumph. 

"Yes,  I  see  that  you  was.  But  it  seems  to  me  that  I'd 
ruther  have  it  established  by  some  other  way  than  by  a 
nigger's  evidence.  You  is  let  off — aquitted  ;  and  if  we 
has  hurt  your  feelings  by  our  treatment  of  you,  we  must 
be  forgiven.  That's  all." 

The  Kentuckiau  turned  away  as  though  he  did  not  half 
believe  Colonel  Rhett  was  innocent,  and  for  my  part  I  was 
of  the  same  opinion  ;  but  still  we  had  no  evidence  to 
show  that  treachery  was  intended,  except  the  swinging  of 
the  lantern,  and  that  the  colonel  declared  was  an  accident. 
If  he  had  signalized  the  fleet,  it  amounted  to  nothing  ;  for 
we  had  nipped  it  in  the  bud,  before  the  Federals  suspect- 
ed anything  :  so  no  great  harm  was  done.  We  could  not 
hang  the  man  just  on  suspicion  that  he  meant  treachery, 
and  yet  I  really  believed  that  he  did  intend  to  deceive 
us.  In  the  course  of  the  forenoon,  Colonel  Rhett  left  the 
steamer  for  a  hotel ;  but  he  promised  to  look  at  us  once  a 
day,  if  not  ofteuer  —  an  act  of  kindness  on  his  part  that 
was  not  appreciated  by  us.  But  the  ship  was  entered 
at  the  custom-house,  and  Bowmount  found  an  agent  to 
purchase  the  entire  cargo,  and  pay  cotton  for  the  same  ; 
and  towards  nine  o'clock  the  Kentuckian  felt  his  way  to 
a  state-room,  and  turned  in,  large  doses  of  whiskey  soon 
sending  him  to  sleep.  Just  as  he  began  to  snore,  John, 
the  mulatto  slave*,  entered  the  cabin,  and  informed  me  that 
Mrs.  Gowen  was  waiting  to  see  me  at  her  residence. 

"  I  hope  that  your  mistress  has  comfortable  quarters,' 
I  said  to  John,  while  preparing  for  the  visit. 

"  Yes,  sir.     You  will  think  so  when  you  see  her." 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  263 

"  And  how  did  you  manage  to  pass  through  the  streets 
without  being  stopped  ?  " 

"  I  have  a  pass,  sir,  that  serves  me  at  all  hours  of  the 
night." 

"  Let  me  see  it,"  I  said. 

The  slave  hesitated,  and  I  was  compelled  to  speak  the 
second  time  before  he  made  a  show  of  feeling  in  his  pock- 
ets for  the  document.  Even  when  he  had  found  it,  he 
did  not  hand  it  to  me  until  I  had  spoken  quite  sharply, 
and  as  though  I  was  to  be  no  longer. trifled  with.  I 
looked  at  the  paper,  and  saw  that  it  was  signed  by  Colo- 
nel Rhett,  and  that  it  spoke  of  John  as  though  he  was  the 
Virginian's  property,  and  on  business  of  importance. 

"  What  does  this  mean,  John  ?  " 

The  fellow  hesitated  only  a  moment,  and  then  re- 
plied, — 

"Colonel  Rhett  gave  me  the  pass  because  he  thought  I 
might  want  to  use  it  while  here,  as  I  have  friends  in 
Charleston." 

"  Then  you  have  no  pass  from  your  mistress,  Mrs. 
Gowen  ?  " 

"  No,  sir.  I  showed  her  this  one,  when  she  spoke  of 
writing  a  pass,  and  then  she  said  it  would  answer  full  as 
well  as  though  she  gave  it,  and  save  her  trouble." 

It  was  not  an  improbable  story  ;  but  at  the  same  time  I 
wondered  that  Mrs.  Gowen,  who  hated  the  sight  and 
name  of  Rhett,  should  care  to  allow  her  slave  to  use  a 
pass  signed  by  the  colonel.  But  I  supposed  it  to  be  one 
of  her  freaks,  and  so  handed  the  paper  back  to  John  with 
the  remark,  — 

"  It  is  very  singular." 

John  made  no  reply,  and  I  continued  to  think  until 
dressed,  and  ready  to  leave  the  ship. 

"  I  shall  return  some  time  in  the  course  of  the  evening," 
I  remarked  to  the  mate,  who  was  on  deck  smoking  his 


264  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

cigar.  "  Keep  an  anchor  watch ;  for,  if  we  don't  have 
one  or  two  men  on  the  lookout,  the  thieves  will  carry  off 
our  anchor  and  cables  before  morning." 

The  mate  promised  compliance,  and  up  the  whaif  I 
went.  At  the  head  of  it  I  found  a  close  carriage  in  the 
care  of  a  negro  coachman.  He  was  a  giant  of  a  fellow, 
and  black  as  coal-tar,  sitting  indolently  on  his  box,  where 
he  seemed  to  have  waited  quite  patiently  for  the  arrival 
of  myself  and  John. 

"It's  all  right,  Sam,"  said  John,  opening  the  carriage 
door,  and  motioning  me  to  pass  in. 

We  passed  through  the  most  populous  parts  of  the  city ; 
and  by  the  aid  of  the  dim  lights  that  flashed  from  stores 
and  houses,  —  for  the  streets  were  not  lighted,  —  I  could 
see  the  gray  uniforms  of  the  confederate  soldiers,  as  they 
thronged  the  streets,  some  of  them  shouting  and  sing- 
ing, and  apparently  enjoying  themselves  after  a  fashion 
of  their  own.  In  a  few  minutes  we  had  left  the  city 
some  distance  behind  us,  and  entered  the  country,  where 
all  was  darkness  —  not  a  light  to  be  seen.  I  did  not  feel 
in  the  least  alarmed  at  this,  but  thought  it  a  little  singu- 
lar that  Mrs.  Gowen  should  be  so  far  from  the  city,  when 
she  had  intimated  that  she  was  to  stop  with  some  friends 
in  Charleston  ;  but,  after  going  on  for  ten  minutes,  I 
knocked  on  the  window,  and  attracted  John's  attention. 
He  lowered  the  front  window,  but  did  not  stop  the  car- 
riage, to  ask  what  I  wanted ;  and  I  fancied  that  the  fellow 
was  a  little  impertinent  in  his  tone. 

"Where  are  you  taking  me,  John?"  I  asked.  "It 
seems  to  me  that  you  are  steering  a  wild  course  out  here 
in  the  dark,  with  not  a  light-house  to  mark  the  channel." 

"  We  shall  be  there  in  a  few  minutes.  Don't  you  be 
alarmed  just  yet." 

"  Alarmed,  you  milk-and-water  colored  vagabond  ? 
What  should  I  be  alarmed  at?  " 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  266 

"  Nothing  yet,  sir." 

Then  up  went  the  window,  and  I  heard  John  and  the 
coachman  laugh.  It  aggravated  me  so  much,  that  I  was 
almost  resolved  to  get  out  and  kick  both  of  the  slaves,  and 
then  return  to  the  city,  and  wait  until  Mrs-  Go  wen  sent  a 
more  civil  messenger  to  conduct  me  to  her  retreat.  But  I 
smothered  my  wrath  when  I  recollected  that  in  a  few 
minutes  I  should  come  to  the  end  of  my  journey,  and  then 
my  annoyances  would  be  brought  to  a  close.  And,  sure 
enough,  my  predictions  were  verified  ;  for  we  soon  turned 
from  the  road  into  an  avenue  lined  with  trees,  but  dark 
and  sombre,  with  not  a  light  to  be  seen.  Through  this 
avenue  we  rolled  for  a  few  minutes ;  and  then  the  car- 
riage stopped,  and  I  heard  whispering,  John  leaving  the 
box  to  carry  on  the  conversation.  Once  more  I  let  down 
the  window,  and  asked  impatiently,  — 

"  What  is  the  matter  now  ?  Are  we  on  the  wrong 
road  ?  " 

"  No,"  was  the  snappish  reply.  "  We  are  on  the  right 
road." 

"  Then  why  don't  you  drive  on  ?  " 

"  We  will  when  we  are  ready,"  was  the  impudent 
reply. 

"  You  milk-and-molasses  scoundrel !  "  I  exclaimed  in  a 
rage,  "  I  have  a  great  mind  to  kick  you  for  your  imperti- 
nence. I  shall  report  it  to  your  mistress." 

"  Yes,"  was  the  cool,  insinuating  reply;  "  I  expect  you 
will/' 

And  then  John  and  Sam  laughed  in  concert,  as  though 
some  joke  lurked  beneath  John's  insolent  words.  I  drew 
my  revolver  from  my  breast,  and  cocked  it.  It  made 
some  noise,  the  sharp  click  being  heard  quite  distinctly 
in  that  silent  avenue,  with  not  a  breath  of  air  to  disturb 
the  heavy  leaves  overhead.  The  slaves,  and  the  people 
with  whom  they  were  whispering,  heard  the  ominous 


266  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

cocking  of  the  pistol,  and  knew  what  it  meant ;  for,  when 
John  next  spoke,  his  tone  expressed  much  more  civility. 

"  Don't  be  impatient,  sir,"  said  he  ;  "  for  a  surprise  is 
intended  you." 

"  And  one  is  intended  you,"  I  replied,  "  unless  you 
keep  a  more  civil  tongue  in  your  head.  You  have  been 
insolent,  to-night,  and  if  I  see  any  more  of  it,  I'll  blow 
your  black  brains  out,  as  sure  as  I'm  a  Southerner." 

"  I  am  sure,  sir,  that  I  did  not  intend  to  be  rude  ;  and 
I'm  sorry  for  the  offence." 

"  If  you  are,  don't  repeat  it ;  for  I  have  lost  all  patience 
with  you." 

"  I  hopes  massa  will  put  up  his  pistol  now  dat  we  has 
shown  dat  we  don't  mean  nuffin  but  what  is  good  for 
him,"  whined  Sam,  the  black,  giant  coachman. 

"  Mrs.  Gowen  will  have  a  hearty  laugh  when  she  hears 
that  you  suspected  us  of  being  unfriendly,"  added  John. 
44 1  do  assure  you,  sir,  that  everything  we  have  done  to- 
night has  been  according  to  orders." 

"  Dat's  so,  massa,"  grunted  Sam.  "  We's  only  'beyin' 
orders." 

"  Well,  then,  I  will  trust  you.  Drive  on,  and  let  us 
reach  the  house  some  time  to-night." 

The  coachman  walked  his  horses,  and  in  a  few  minutes' 
time  we  drew  up  in  front  of  a  door.  I  could  see  a  light 
in  the  hall  of  the  house,  and  a  light  in  one  of  the  rooms  ; 
but  the  building  did  not  present  a  very  lively  aspect, 
although  the  night  was  so  dark  that  I  could  not  judge 
what  kind  of  a  house  it  was.  It  appeared  to  me  like  the 
residence  of  a  planter. 

"  Here  we  are,  sir,"  said  John,  opening  the  carriage 
door,  so  that  I  could  step  on  the  veranda  that  ran  around 
the  house. 

"  Yes,  sah,  here  we  is,"  chuckled  Sam,  the  coachman, 
as  he  got  off  his  box. 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  2G7 

"  But  where  are  all  the  people  ?  "  I  remarked  "  There 
appears  to  be  no  one  here  to  receive  me." 

"  O,  yes,  there  is,  sir,"  answered  John.  "  There  are 
plenty  here  ;  only  you  don't  see  them.'' 

"Well,  then,  I  would  like  to;  fora  darker  place  than 
this  can't  be  found  in  South  Carolina." 

"  The  gentleman  wants  some  light,"  the  mulatto  cried. 

"  Well,  den,  let  'em  hab  it.  O,  dear,  yes  I  let  'em  hab 
light  by  all  means." 

And  Sam  laughed  as  though  he  had  just  heard  a  good 
negro  joke. 

There  was  a  scraping  of  matches,  and  brief  and  uncer- 
tain flashes  of  light,  revealing  dark  faces  and  woolly  heads, 
and  then  there  suddenly  blazed  up  some  twenty  torches, 
held  by  slaves  of  all  ages,  from  the  impulsive  negro  of 
twenty  years  to  the  veteran  of  sixty.  They  were  arranged 
with  some  degree  of  order,  forming  a  lane  through  which 
I  had  to  pass  as  I  walked  to  the  door  of  the  house.  As 
the  light  flashed  over  the  dark  faces  that  surrounded  me, 
I  took  a  quick  survey  of  them,  and  noted  the  almost  stony 
sternness  of  their  countenances.  There  was  not  one  ex- 
pression of  pleasure  or  joy  to  be  detected  on  a  single  face, 
young  or  old,  which  I  regarded  as  something  wonderful ; 
for  the  negroes  of  a  plantation  generally  take  much  pleas- 
ure in  welcoming  the  guests  of  their  masters,  receiving 
one  with  grins  and  even  somersets  of  delight  when  all 
other  marks  of  approval  failed  them.  As  I  took  a  step 
towards  the  door,  the  torches,  composed  of  light,  resinous 
wood,  giving  out  dark  and  smoky  flame,  were  advanced, 
as  though  to  get  a  good  view  of  my  face.  The  act  was  so 
sudden  and  solemn,  so  peculiar  and  unexpected,  that  I 
stopped,  and  started  back  a  pace  or  two. 

"Are  you  afraid  of  a  few  negro  slaves?"  asked  John, 
in  a  tone  so  like  a  sneer,  that  I  turned  on  him,  and 
would  have  struck  him  if  he  had  not  been  the  favorite 


268  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

slave  of  a  lady  whom  I  respected  as  much  as  I  did  Mrs 
Gowen. 

"  I  am  afraid  of  nothing,"  I  answered  in  a  fira  man- 
ner ;  "  not  even  of  a  dozen  or  two  slaves,  who  tremble 
at  the  frown  of  a  white  man." 

"  The  day  for  such  trembling  is  nearly  past,"  quietly 
responded  John. 

"  Nearly  past — glory  to  God  !  "  cried  the  slaves  with 
one  accord,  and  without  changing  a  muscle  of  their  faces, 
so  stern  and  grim. 

"  De  day  is  breakin'  !  glory,  hallelujah  !  "  screeched  one 
old  fellow,  nearly  bent  double  with  rheumatism  and  hard 
work  in  the  rice  and  cotton  fields  of  South  Carolina. 

"  De  day  is  breakin' !  glory,  hallelujah  !  "  cried  the  others 
in  chorus,  and  with  a  wave  of  their  torches  and  a  flash  of 
their  eyes. 

I  did  not  feel  alarmed  at  the  scene  before  me,  yet  I 
thought  it  wonderful  and  strange  that  a  planter  should 
allow  his  slaves  to  show  such  religious  fanaticism  near  his 
house  when  receiving  a  strange  guest.  It  was  so  unusual 
that  I  could  not  help  commenting  on  it  to  John. 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  all  the  slaves  to-night  ?  "  I 
asked.  "  Have  they  been  attending  camp-meeting  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  one  kind  of  camp-meeting." 

"  One  kind,  bress  de  Lord,"  chorused  the  negroes. 

"  Ah  !  what  is  that  ?  " 

"The  camp-meeting  of  freedom.  We  are  slaves  no 
longer.  Strike!  Down  with  the  slave-driver !" 

I  must  confess  that  I  was  surprised  ;  so  much  so  that  I 
had  no  time  to  draw  pistol  or  knife.  Sam,  the  coach- 
man, a  negro  of  giant  strength,  threw  himself  upon  me, 
and  pinioned  my  arms  to  my  side,  while,  at  the  same  mo- 
ment, two  other  negroes,  whom  I  had  not  seen,  came  up 
behind  me,  grasped  my  feet  with  their  hands,  and  down  I 
tumbled. 


RX*NNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  £69 

"Take  away  his  pistol  and  knife,"  cried  John,  the 
treacherous  mulatto,  who  had  not  yet  laid  a  hand  on  me, 
but  who  appeared  to  direct  all  the  movements. 

"  Yes,"  chuckled  Sam.  "  Take  dem  t'ings  away,  'cos 
dey  is  dangerous.  If  de  knife  should  go  into  dis  chile's 
belly,  he  wouldn't  feel  like  eatin'  gumbo  for  one  while, 
now  I  tells  yer.  Yah !  yah  !  yah  !  " 

"  Don't  you  be  afeard,  Sam,"  one  of  the  others  cried, 
pulling  a  revolver  from  my  pocket,  and  coolly  placing  it 
ic  his  own  —  an  operation  that  caused  Sam  to  show  the 
>vhites  of  his  eyes  in  an  alarming  manner. 

I  found  that  struggling  with  three  or  four  stout  men, 
who  were  determined  to  succeed  in  their  purpose,  was 
quite  useless ;  so  I  lay  still,  panting  under  the  compres- 
sion of  the  negroes,  and  wondering  what  had  induced 
them  to  attack  me,  who  had  never  injured  them  in  word 
or  deed. 

"  Suit  yourselves,  gentlemen,"  I  said,  at  length.  "  Only 
please  to  get  off  my  breast ;  for  it  is  difficult  to  breathe  ; 
and  Sam  is  rather  fat,  and  smells  none  too  sweet." 

"  What  dat  you  say  ?  "  cried  the  giant.  "  I's  as  sweet 
as  you  is,  you  blamed,  gol-darned  old  rebel." 

"  De  Lord  be  praised,  de  day  ob  jubilee  is  comin',  corn- 
in',  for  de  children  of  Israel,"  chanted  rather  than  sang 
the  blacks,  who  still  held  the  torches,  and  still  remained 
in  line,  interested  spectators  of  the  struggle  that  was 
going  on  between  their  colored  brethren  and  myself. 
While  the  slaves  were  chanting,  the  rest  of  the  scamps, 
with  Mr.  John  to  lead  them,  were  overhauling  my  person, 
ana  taking  such  articles  as  they  could  find  in  my  pockets. 
I  began  to  ask  a  few  questions  of  John,  who  had  stood 
looking  on. 

"  My  Christian  friend,"  I  asked,  "  will  you  please  to 
tell  me  the  meaning  .of  this  outrage  upon  me  ?  " 

"  He  calls  this  an  outrage,  boys,"  the  mulatto  cried, 


270  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

speaking  to  the  blacks  who  were  holding  the  torches.  The 
slaves,  in  response,  uttered  a  dismal  groan,  as  though  they 
did  not  see  matters  in  that  particular  light. 

"  Yes,"  continued  John  ;  "a  man  who  has  beaten  us, 
sold  us  into  slavery,  and  parted  husbands  and  wives,  and 
mothers  and  children,  now  calls  such  a  trifling  and  paltry 
thing  as  this  an  outrage." 

"You  treacherous  scoundrel,"  I  said,  addressing  John, 
"  you  know  that  I  never  sold  a  human  being  into  slavery, 
or  ill-used  the  blacks.  Tell  me  the  meaning  of  this." 

"You  belong  to  South  Carolina  —  don't  you?"  de- 
manded John. 

For  a  moment  I  hesitated,  but  only  for  a  moment. 
There  was  too  much  risk  to  be  run  in  acknowledging  my- 
self to  be  a  Northern  man.  I  did  not  dare  to  trust  the 
negroes  so  soon  after  running  the  blockade. 

"Well,  what  if  I  do  belong  to  South  Carolina?"  I 
asked. 

"  Then  you  are  an  enemy  to  the  Yanks  ;  and  being  such, 
you  are  our  enemy." 

"  Then  I  understand  you  to  say  that  you  are  in  favor  of 
the  Yankees?"  I  asked,  astonished  at  what  I  had  heard. 

"  We  is  de  Yankees'  friends,  bress  de  Lord !  bress  de 
Lord ! "  howled  the  negroes,  waving  their  torches,  and 
swaying  their  bodies  back  and  forth,  and  only  with  the 
utmost  restraint  refraining  from  dancing  at  the  same 
time. 

"You  have  your  answer,"  John  said,  as  soon  as  the 
slaves  had  ceased  their  chant,  and  quieted  down. 

"  Yes,  I  see  that  the  answer  has  come  ;  and  I  am  aston- 
ished at  it.  But  let  me  ask  why  you  have  singled  me  out 
for  a  victim,  when  there  are  so  many  who  are  much  more 
prominent  than  myself." 

"  Because  I  hate  you,"  hissed  the  mulatto  between  his 
teeth. 


RUNNING  THE    BLOCKADE.  271 

"  Indeed  !  I  was  not  aware  that  I  had  given  you  any 
cause  for  such  feeling." 

"  Listen  to  him,  boys,"  cried  the  mulatto,  addressing 
the  slaves.  "  He  runs  a  vessel  past  the  blockading  squad- 
ron, and  cheats  our  friends  the  Yanks.' 

Then  came  another  howl  from  the  negroes,  and  they 
chanted,  — 

"  May  old  Satan  nab  him  ! 
O,  may  old  Satan  nab  him  ! 
O,  may  old  Satan  nab  him  ! 
At  dis  time  o'  night ! " 

And  once  more  they  planted  the  soles  of  their  flat  feet 
upon  the  boards,  until  it  sounded  like  rain  beating  against 
A  tin  roof. 

.  "Is  that  all  ?  "  I  demanded,  as  soon  as  the  noise  sub- 
sided. "Come!  let  me  know  the  whole  of  my  sins.  I 
am  getting  quite  impatient  to  learn  them." 

"  You  shall,"  the  mulatto  answered,  in  a  voice  that 
trembled  a  little  with  rage. 

a  Well,  go  on,  for  Tin  tired  of  remaining  here." 

"  The  place  to  which  you  will  be  removed  from  here  is 
not  a  paradise  ;  and  you  had  better  enjoy  the  open  air 
while  you  can,  and  not  hurry  us.  There  is  time  enough 
before  the  men  who  surround  you  will  be  compelled  to 
take  to  the  swamps.  At  the  first  glimpse  of  daylight, 
they  will  be  off." 

"  I  have  no  objection  to  their  leaving  immediately,  if 
they  are  so  disposed,"  I  remarked,  insinuatingly. 

"  They  will  remain  until  I  bid  them  depart,"  answered 
John,  haughtily,  with  a  proud  wave  of  his  hand. 

"  Just  as  you  please.  Drive  on  with  your  yarn,  and  let 
me  know  why  }rou  are  detaining  me." 

"  I  have  told  you  :  because  you  are  an  enemy  of  the 
North." 

"  So  are  thousands.  Mr.  Bowmount  and  Colonel  Rhett 
are  enemies  of  tht  North,  and  h,ate  the  Yanks." 


272  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

'•But  they  are  not  dangerous,  like  you.  They  could 
not  have  run  past  the  blockaders,  and  answered  all  their 
signals,  the  same  as  you  did  last  night.  We  take  only 
the  leading  ones,  and  leave  the  ignorant  rabble  to  be  shot 
by  the  Yanks." 

This  started  the  negroes  to  howling  again,  and  their 
voices  mingled  in  chanting,  — 

"  0,  bress  de  Nothern  marksmen  1 
For  dey  can  shoot  de  guns, 
And  make  de  cannon  rattle, 
And  drive  —  " 

"  Silence  !  "  roared  John,  who  found  that  the  chorus 
was  likely  to  be  longer  than  he  desired,  arid  therefore  in- 
terfered with  his  oratory.  "  Silence,  you  black  scamps. 
Do  you  want  to  bring  the  patrol  down  on  us?  " 

"  No  fear  of  der  comin'  to  dis  house,"  chuckled  an  old 
white-headed  negro,  with  a  face  like  an  intelligent  ape's. 
"  Dis  house  ain't  de  kind  ob  house  for  white  men  to  look 
arter  in  de  night  time.  Yah !  yah  !  Why,  bress  de  Lord  I 
dar  lots  of  peoples  ready  to  swear  dat  dey  has  seen  old 
massa  trampin'  round  de  rooms  wid  ebber  so  many  little 
debbils  punchin'  'um  wid  forks,  'cos  he  was  cruel  to  his 
slaves,  and  cruel  to  all  his  white  relations.  Ah,  a  berry 
hard  man  was  old  massa." 

As  the  negro  seemed  to  be  an  oracle  with  the  slaves, 
all  listened  to  him  in  silence,  and  one  or  two,  with  that 
peculiar  superstitious  feeling  that  will  overcome  the  best 
of  us  at  times,  when  near  a  ruin  reputed  haunted,  rolled 
their  eyes  in  all  directions,  as  though  their  owners  were 
attempting  to  obtain  glimpses  of  matters  in  the  rear,  where 
the  dark  woods  moaned  with  the  sighing  of  the  night  wind, 
and  the  croaking  of  frogs  blended  with  the  dismal  notes  of 
some  lonely  whip-poor-will  anxious  for  a  mate. 

u  When  I   t'inks  of  de  time  when  old  massa  cut  'em 


RUNNING   THE  BLOCKADE.  273 

throat  from  ear  to  ear,"  continued  the  venerable  ape,  who 
seemed  to  like  to  hear  himself  talk,  "  I  almost  see  'em 
now,  wid  de  blood  pourin'  out  ob  de  gash —  " 

There  was  a  visible  sensation  in  the  ranks,  and  many 
torches  trembled,  and  heads  could  no  longer  be  controlled. 
They  had  to  turn  and  look  towards  darkness,  as  though 
their  owners  feared  something  would  jump  on  them,  and 
clasp  them  in  a  clammy  embrace.  If  it  had  been  possible 
for  the  slaves  to  turn  pale,  they  would  have  done  so  ;  but, 
as  it  was,  the  darkest  looked  several  shades  lighter  than 
their  natural  color. 

"  Yes,"  continued  the  white-headed  oracle,  "  when  I 
t'inks  ob  dat  mornin',  I  feels  quite  lively ;  'cos  I  knew 
dat  de  slaves  ob  dis  plantation  had  escaped  a  plague,  wus- 
ser  dan  Goliah  in  de  lions'  den.  Yes :  I  can  see  old 
massa  a  lyin'  on  de  floor,  wid  his  troat  all  open-like, 
and  de  razor  covered  wid  blood,  and  his  eyes  wide  open. 
Dar— " 

"Whar?"  yelled  a  dozen  voices,  the  slaves  wrought 
up  to  the  highest  pitch  of  excitement  at  the  details  of  a 
horrible  domestic  tragedy  that  had  occurred  some  ten 
years  before. 

"  Thar,"  I  shrieked,  springing  to  my  feet,  and  pointing 
with  one  hand,  with  all  the  dramatic  action  that  I  could 
command.  "  Thar  he  comes,  razor  in  hand." 

Some  half  a  dozen  torches  were  dashed  down,  and  some 
half  a  dozen  negroes  ran  howling  from  the  house ;  but,  to 
my  regret,  those  who  were  nearest  to  me  did  not  move, 
though  they  were  shaking  in  an  awful  manner.  I  thought 
I  might  break  through  the  circle ;  and  perhaps  I  should 
have  done  so  had  it  not  been  for  John,  the  mulatto,  who 
had  received  a  good  education,  and  was  not  so  supersti- 
tious as  his  companions.  He  saw  at  once  through  my 
designs,  and  frustrated  them  ;  for  just  as  I  meant  to  jump 
and  run  for  the  woods,  trusting  to  luck  and  superstition 


274  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

to  enable  me  to  escape,  he  caught  me  by  the  aim,  and 
shouted  to  Sam,  — 

"  Don't  be  a  fool,  you  big  coward.  Take  hold  of  the 
captain,  or  he'll  run  for  it." 

The  negro  followed  his  directions.  Once  more  he  seized 
me  with  no  gentle  hand  ;  and  when  the  others  saw  a  slight 
scuffle,  in  my  attempts  to  escape,  their  courage  returned, 
for  they  had  something  else  to  think  of  besides  ghosts. 
The  scoundrels  forced  me  on  my  knees,  and  there  held  me 
until  those  who  had  the  torches  could  throw  a  little  light 
on  the  dark  scene  ;  and,  by  the  best  bower  that  ship  ever 
carried,  there  was  need  enough  of  it ;  for  some  of  the 
faces  that  surrounded  me  were  darker  than  coal-tar,  and 
as  the  night  was  warm,  and  the  torches  were  hot,  the 
holders  of  the  same  smelt  worse  than  bad  beef. 

John  enjoyed  his  triumph,  and  so  did  the  rest  of  the 
negroes ;  for  they  uttered  a  shout  of  derision,  and  that  yell 
was  answered  by  one  in  the  avenue.  Once  more  the  shout 
was  repeated,  this  time  nearer  the  house.  It  was  answered 
by  one  of  the  negroes ;  and  then  the  clatter  of  horse's 
hoofs  was  heard,  and  into  the  light  that  the  torches  shed 
around,  rode  two  horsemen,  one  of  them  as  black  as  the 
forest  at  the  back  of  the  house,  and  the  other  I  made  out 
to  be  a  white  man.  They  dismounted  and  came  towards 
us  ;  and  when  within  a  fathom  or  two,  the  slaves,  who 
had  circled  around  me,  opened  to  admit  the  new  comers. 

"  Ah,  John  !  "  cried  a  familiar  voice,  "  you  have  him 
fast,  I  see." 

I  looked  at  the  man's  face,  and,  to  my  surprise,  saw 
Colonel  Rhett  before  me. 

"Ah,  colonel!"  I  cried,  "  you  are  just  in  time  to  aid 
me.  I  never  in  my  life  was  more  glad  to  see  you." 

"  You  be  hung  for  a  rebel  and  a  traitor,"  was  the  brutal 
answer  of  the  insulting  and  arrogant  Virginian. 

The  old  colonel  lighted  a  cigar  by  the  aid  of  one  of  the 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  275 

torches,  and  then,  insolently  puffing  a  cloud  of  smoke 
towards  me,  coolly  and  deliberately  said,  — 

"  Nary  a  helping  hand  do  I  lend  you." 

He  laughed  as  he  said  this,  but  did  not  continue  the 
conversation ;  for  John,  who  had  entered  the  house  for  a 
moment,  now  returned,  and  the  white  man  and  the  slave 
whispered  together  for  a  few  moments.  While  they  were 
thus  engaged,  I  was  allowed  to  stand  on  my  feet,  but  so 
closely  guarded  that  escape  was  impossible.  At  length 
the  colonel  and  the  mulatto  closed  their  conference. 

"  Lead  him  on !  "  said  the  latter. 

Whereupon  two  of  the  negroes  butted  at  me  in  such  a 
manner  that  they  were  as  resistless  as  Federal  rams,  and  I 
was  compelled  to  move  on  or  go  down  ;  but  just  as  I 
ranged  along  in  line  with  the  colonel  I  manifested  a  little 
resistance,  enough  to  provoke  the  ire  of  the  slaves.  They 
thought  they  would  settle  me  with  one  grand  combination 
butt,  that  would  send  me  end  for  end  like  a  spar  in  a  hur- 
ricane. I  watched  their  motions  with  a  wary  eye.  I  saw 
them  bend  their  bullet-shaped  heads,  stiffen  their  bovine 
necks,  and  huddle  closer  together,  as  they  made  prepara- 
tions for  the  plunge  ;  and  then,  when  they  rushed  for- 
ward, I  stepped  hastily  to  one  side.  The  darkeys  passed 
me  with  a  grunt  and  a  snort,  and  struck  the  Virginian 
just  under  the  line  of  his  belt  in  front.  The  result  waa 
what  could  be  expected.  The'  colonel  went  over  as 
though  struck  by  a  thirty-two  pounder ;  and  the  slaves, 
unable  to  stop  their  career,  fell  upon  the  warrior,  and 
nearly  crushed  the  life  out  of  his  body.  The  sight  was  so 
ludicrous,  that  even  John  was  compelled  to  laugh ;  and 
that  was  the  signal  for  the  rest  of  the  slaves  to  join  in. 

"Yah,  yah!  "  roared  the  negroes.  "By  golly,  Pete 
and  Sam  outt  de  wrong  one  dat  time,  and  no  mistake. 
Dey  jest  like  bulls,  —  shet  'em  eyes,  and  away  'em  goes. 
O,  de  Lord !  to  see  dem  nigs  roll  ober  I  " 


276  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

The  colonel  managed  to  gain  his  feet ;  but  he  could  not 
speak  for  some  time,  owing  to  the  blows  which  he  had  re- 
ceived in  his  stomach.  He  held  on,  with  both  hands,  to 
that  portion  of  his  anatomy,  and  gasped  for  breath.  When 
he  did  find  his  tongue,  he  swore  some  bitter  oaths ;  and 
his  temper  was  not  improved  when  I  told  him  I  was  one 
of  the  blessed,  having  given  him  that  which  I  should  have 
received. 

"  None  of  your  low  blockade-running  jokes  on  me," 
gasped  the  victim,  with  both  hands  on  his  stomach.  "  I 
wish  the  niggers  had  killed  you." 

"  The  same  to  you,  my  valiant  friend.  Your  loss  would 
have  been  but  little  in  the  great  cause." 

"  Curse  you  and  your  cause.  O,  how  my  insides  ache  I 
The  niggers'  heads  are  harder  than  cannon-balls." 

John  saw  that  the  colonel  was  all  doubled  up  with 
pain  and  rage  ;  so  he  composed  his  face,  and  motioned  for 
me  to  move  on.  The  slaves  gave  me  a  hustle  forward, 
and  on  I  went,  John  leading  the  way.  He  pushed  open 
a  stout  oak  door,  snatched  a  torch  from  one  of  the  negroes, 
and,  waving  it  over  his  head,  showed  me  the  cell  I  was  to 
occupy.  It  was  not  an  inviting-looking  place.  It  was 
close,  dark,  and  damp,  with  a  tomb-like  smell  that  was 
•sickening.  There  was  no  window  to  admit  light  or  air : 
only  the  earth  could  be  seen,  wet  and  unwholesome,  with 
great  drops  of  water  issuing  from  the  soil,  slimy  and  green 
— just  such  a  place  as  snakes  love  to  revel  in.  In  one 
corner  of  the  cell  I  saw  several  toads,  —  big  fellows,  with 
white  breasts  and  black  and  yellow  backs,  —  venerable 
chaps,  which  sat  upon  their  hind  legs,  and  winked  in  the 
most  confidential  manner,  when  the  light  of  the  torches 
flashed  in  the  cell,  and  awoke  them  from  their  slumbers. 

"Here,"  said  John,  with  a  sardonic  smile,  "you  can 
remain  comfortable  until  such  time  as  you  are  wanted.  It 
is  useless  for  you  to  think  of  escaping  or  calling  for  help. 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  277 

One  of  the  colored  gentlemen  will  always  stand  at  your 
door,  but  no  noise  that  you  make  can  be  heard  beyond 
the  building.  You  will  live  on  bread  and  water,  and  none 
too  much  of  that." 

"  Thank  you,  John.  Have  you  anything  more  to  say  ?  " 

"  No." 

"  Then  be  kind  enough  to  leave  me  and  the  toads  and 
other  reptiles  together.  "We  can  dispense  with  your  com- 
pany for  the  present.  The  time  may  come  when  I  shall 
request  a  longer  interview." 

"  Well,  you  are  a  cool  hand,  ain't  you  ?  "  the  mulatto 
asked. 

"  Yes  ;  I  think  I  am.  Good  night,  and  don't  lie  about 
me  to  Mrs.  Gowen  more  than  you  can  help." 

"  Your  interests  in  that  quarter  shall  be  attended  to." 

With  this  remark,  the  door  was  closed,  locked,  and 
barred,  and  I  was  left  alone  in  the  cell,  witlj  the  bloated 
toads  and  spiders. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

A  PRISONER.  —  A  NEGRO  LEAGUE.  —  A  FELLOW-SUFFER- 
ER. —  BOWMOUNT  IN  A  TRAP.  —  HE  FINDS    A  CHISEL. 

—  AT  "WORK  TO  GET  OUT.  — THE  KENTUCKY  AN  ESCAPES. 

—  SOME  OLD  FRIENDS  APPEAR.  —  A  MOMENT  OF  PERIL. 

—  TIMELY  ARRIVAL  OF  THE  KENTUCKIAN.  —  THE  TA- 
BLES  TURNED. 

IT  was  some  moments  before  I  could  realize  that  I  was 
a  prisoner  in  the  custody  of  escaped  slaves,  who  were 
doing  all  that  they  could  to  weaken  the  South  and  help 
the  North.  They  had  selected  a  deserted  mansion  house 

as  their  head-quarters  during  the  night,  knowing  that  its 
19 


278  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

reputation  for  being  haunted  would  keep  people  at  a  dis- 
tance ;  while,  in  the  neighboring  swamps,  to  which  they 
fled  in  the  daytime,  they  were  secure  from  attack,  even 
from  men  or  dogs ;  for  the  former  feared  to  venture  near 
them  on  account  of  snakes  and  desperate  negroes,  and  the 
latter  could  not  scent  their  prey  over  spongy  ground  and 
stagnant  pools  of  water. 

So  the  negroes  were  sjife  from  pursuit.  For  food,  they 
depended  upon  contributions  from  the  hands  of  dark- 
skinned  allies,  and  sometimes  foraged  a  little  on  the  plan- 
tations from  which  they  had  fled  some  months  before. 
They  knew,  to  a  chicken,  how  large  a  number  of  fowls 
were  kept  on  the  several  places  ;  and,  what  was  better, 
they  could  tell  where  to  put  their  hands  on  the  fattest, 
even  in  the  darkest  nights  —  an  advantage  of  which  the 
slaves  often  availed  themselves  when  out  prowling.  The 
men  were  communicated  with  by  couriers  from  the  city, 
who  brought  word  when  their  services  were  required  on 
any  particular  night ;  and  the  dark  brotherhood  never 
failed  to  attend  in  a  body  on  every  such  occasion,  prepared 
to  do  all  the  honors  required.  John  had  put  himself  in 
communication  with  the  gang  the  instant  he  had  landed. 
He  had  even  gone  to  the  house,  in  company  with  Sam, 
the  coachman,  who  was  one  of  the  chief  conspirators,  and, 
in  connection  with  some  dozen  others,  attended  to  the 
Charleston  department.  John  had  told  the  slaves  what 
a  dangerous  and  desperate  character  I  was,  and  what  a 
good  thing  it  would  be  if  I  was  out  of  the  way. 

This  was  the  whole  history  of  the  gang,  —  some  of  them 
desperate  and  bold,  and  others  arrant  cowards,  unfit  to  do 
the  hard  and  bold  work  of  their  superiors.  They  seized 
upon  all  prominent  confederates  whom  they  could  reach, 
or  get  into  their  power,  and  sold  them  to  the  Union  forces 
as  prisoners  of  war,  or  else  quietly  made  way  with  them 
in  the  dreary  cellar  of  that  dark  and  lonely  house.  Those 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  279 

who  were  silently  conveyed  to  the  Union  fleet  were  sent 
North,  and  refused  exchange  until  the  war  was  closed  up. 
This  was  done  at  the  special  request  of  the  slaves,  who 
knew  that  if  one  of  their  prisoner.";  should  return  to 
Charleston,  and  expose  the  secret  of  his  capture,  their  ren- 
dezvous would  be  broken  up,  and  all  slaves  in  the  vicinity 
be  subjected  to  cruel  treatment  until  some  revelations 
were  made.  Of  course  I  did  not  -learn  all  these  particu- 
lars for  some  tune ;  but  I  had  plenty  of  opportunity  to 
think  of  many  things,  and  to  study  out  the  designs  of 
the  slaves,  while  lying  in  their  dungeon ;  for,  in  spite  of 
the  damp  earth  and  my  unpleasant  companions,  I  was 
compelled  to  lie  down  to  rest  my  weary  limbs.  But,  for 
the  first  two  hours  after  I  was  locked  up,  I  remained  on 
my  feet,  not  daring  to  move  for  fear  of  stepping  on  a  toad 
or  some  other  obnoxious  thing.  But  after  a  while  I  grew 
tired,  and  wanted  a  change ;  so  I  yelled  out  at  the  top  of 
my  voice,  — 

"  Corporal  of  the  guard  ?  " 

I  knew  no  other  method  of  attracting  attention,  and  did 
not  just  understand  how  I  was  to  call  my  captors.  There 
was  no  response  to  my  first  hail ;  so  I  shouted  again,  — 

"  Corporal  of  the  guard  ?  " 

This  time  I  pitched  my  voice  in  so  high  a  key  that  it 
echoed  through  the  cellar,  and  even  startled  me,  it  sound- 
ed so  unearthly.  Presently  some  one  began  slowly  de- 
scending the  steps,  and  when  about  half  way  down, 
stopped,  and  asked,  — 

"  What  dedikensyou  mean  by  makin'  dat  ar'  noise,  and 
callin'  artcr  de  corporal  ob  de  guard?  Dar  ain't  no  such 
nigger  here." 

"  Then  what  do  you  call  yourself?  If  you  ain't  a  cor- 
poral, what  are  you  ?  " 

u  I's  Sambo  Hayes ;  dat's  what  I  is.  Now  what  you 
make  dat  noise  fur  ?  " 


280  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  Come  close  to  ma,  Sambo,  and  I'll  tell  you.  I  want 
to  speak  to  you  in  a  low  tone." 

"  Look  'e  here,  sah,"  cried  the  slave,  in  a  threatening 
manner ;  "  none  o'  yer  blamed  blockade-running  tricks  on 
me ;  'cos  I  won't  stand  'em,  yer  see." 

"  Don't  be  afraid.     You  know  that  I  am  unarmed." 

"  I  ain't  afeard  of  yer,  white  man.  Don't  yer  t'ink  I 
is.  It  would  take  a  bigger  white  man  dan  you  is  to  ma.ke 
me  afeard." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  of  it,  Sambo.  Now,  come  close  to 
the  keyhole  of  the  door,  so  that  I  can  whisper  to  you." 

"  Don't  yer  be  playin'  any  of  yer  tricks  on  dis  nigger, 
now  I  tells  yer." 

His  voice  sounded  as  though  he  was  both  frightened 
and  angry. 

"  What  is  the  matter  ?  " 

"  I  tells  yer  what  it  is,  white  man,  yer  can't  skeer  me 
Yer  may  groan  as  much  as  yer  likes  ;  but  I's  got  lots  ob 
spunk,  I  has.     O,  de  Lord  !  what  dat  ?  " 

I  did  not  wonder  at  the  slave's  concluding  exclamation ; 
for  as  distinctly  as  ever  I  heard  a  sound,  on  shipboard 
or  on  the  land,  came  a  most  unearthly  groan  floating 
through  the  dull,  stifling  air  of  that  cellar,  and  die  away 
in  a  low,  sigh-like  moan,  that  did  sound  most  ghostly,  an,d 
caused  me  to  wish  myself  out  of  that  den  and  in  the 
open  air. 

"  Don't  yer  do  dat  agin,"  cried  Sambo,  with  chattering 
teeth.  "  White  man,  I  tells  yer  to  stop  it.  If  yer  don't, 
I  leaves  yer  to  yer  own  fate." 

"  I  have  done  nothing,"  I  said.  "  Let  me  out,  and  I'll 
prove  it." 

"  N-o  —  n-o,"  was  the  stammering  answer. 

Then  for  a  moment  there  was  silence  ;  but  I  could  hear 
the  teeth  of  the  negro  chattering  as  though  he  had  an 
attack  of  fever  and  ague.  Once  more  a  groan,  like  that 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  281 

* 

produced  by  a  person  in  the  last  extremity,  —  low  and 
gurgling  at  first,  then  rising  higher  and  higher,  until 
the  sound  resembled  the  sob  of  a  sick-room.  Then  it  died 
away  like  the  sigh  from  the  bosom  of  a  dying  consump- 
tive. 

"0,  de  Lord  !  "  cried  the  negro.  "  Jesus  hab  mercy  on 
dis  nigger,  for  ebber  and  ebber,  amen.  What  de  dikens 
does  it  mean  ?  Do  you  does  dat,  white  man  ?  Speak  and 
tells  me." 

"  Sambo,  it  is  a  warning  for  you  to  release  me,"  I  said, 
in  as  solemn  a  tone  as  I  could  assume.  "  Unless  you 
throw  open  the  doors,  and  set  me  free,  you  will  be  haunt- 
ed for  life." 

"  Den,"  cried  the  negro,  with  the  most  wonderful  alac- 
rity, "  dey  don't  haunt  dis  child  in  de  dark,  now  I  tell 
yer.  I'se  off  like  a  rigger,  I  is." 

He  ran  up  the  stairs,  and  slammed  the  door  after  him ; 
and  that  was  the  last  I  heard  of  Sambo  for  the  night :  but 
the  groans  did  not  cease,  for  they  were  as  dismal  and  fre- 
quent as  ever,  until  at  last  I  was  forced  to  call  out,  and 
ask  if  flesh  and  blood  produced  such  moans,  or  if  they 
were  forced  from  some  unhappy  ghost,  who  had  walked 
the  earth  until  tired  of  such  sport,  and  now  desired  to 
enter  the  silent  tomb,  and  take  some  rest. 

I  called  out  three  or  four  times,  but  no  answer  was 
returned.  A  deep  groan  was  the  only  response ;  and  at 
last  I  became  satisfied  that  some  human  being  was  a  pris- 
oner, like  myself,  in  that  dreary  cellar.  I  was  supersti- 
tious, but  not  enough  to  believe  that  the  groans  were  pro- 
duced through  unearthly  agency;  so  I  kept  on  talking 
and  hailing. 

"  Groans,  ahoy  !  "  I  cried.  "  Just  give  us  a  different 
signal  from  that ;  for  I  am  tired  of  it.  Try  some  other 
key,  and  see  how  you  will  succeed." 

This  remark  seemed  to  attract  some  attention,  for  the 
dismal  sounds  ceased. 


282  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

"That  is  right,"  I  remarked.  "Now  vanish  or  goto 
sleep  like  a  decent  person;  or,  if  you  can't  sleep,  let 
others." 

For  a  minute  there  was  a  profound  silence,  during  which 
time  I  kicked  at  several  toads  that  were  hopping  around 
my  feet  as  if  to  claim  acquaintance,  for  mutual  protection. 
Just  as  I  was  about  to  sit  down  on  the  cold  ground,  with 
my  back  to  the  wall,  a  feeble,  shaking  voice,  coming  from 
a  distant  part  of  the  cellar,  startled  me. 

"  Who  are  you  who  calls  so  loud  ?  "  it  asked. 

"  That  is  a  question  that  I  would  like  to  ask  you,"  I 
replied. 

"  I  am  a  poor,  unhappy  woman,"  was  the  response. 

"  And  I  am  unhappy  also  because  I'm  a  prisoner,  and 
unable  to  assist  you,"  I  said. 

"  What !  do  you  know  who  I  am  ?  "  the  shaky  voice 
asked. 

"  I  haven't  the  slightest  idea." 

"  Then  why  do  you  take  such  an  interest  in  me  ?  " 

"Because  'a  fellow-feeling  makes  us  wondrous  kind.' 
I'd  like  to  get  out  of  this  den.  Wouldn't  you  ? '' 

"  Alas !  yes." 

"  So  should  I ;  but  I  don't  see  any  prospect  of  it  just  at 
present." 

"  Neither  do  I,  unhappy  me." 

"  How  came  you  here  ?  "  I  continued. 

"  Before  I  answer  that  question,  let  me  inquire,  who  you 
are  ?  A  negro  ?  " 

"  No ;  a  white  man." 

"  Thank  God  !     You  are  a  confederate  ?  " 

"  Am  I  not  in  South  Carolina  ?  " 

"  True  ;  you  must  be  a  friend." 

"  I  hope  that  I  am  the  friend  of  all  women,  and  espe- 
cially the  friend  of  those  in  distress.  Now,  tell  me  how 
long  you  have  been  here,  and  how  it  happens  that  you  are 
a  prisoner." 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  £83 

"I  have  been  locked  up  in  this  damp  and  filthy  cell 
for  three  weeks.  During  all  that  time  I  have  not  seen 
daylight,  anything  but  the  black  faces  of  my  jailers,  who 
have  thrust  a  little  unwholesome  food  into  my  den,  and 
then  retired.  Can  you  wonder  that  I  am  nearly  dead,  or 
that  I  groan  with  anguish,  or  that  I  am  half  insane?  " 

"  Why  did  the  negroes  meddle  with  vou.  a  lady,  who 
would  harm  no  one  ?  " 

"  Because  I  was  active  in  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy. 
I  have  crossed  the  lines  a  dozen  times,  and  brought  infor- 
mation to  our  rulers." 

"  Ah,  a  spy !  " 

"  Yes,"  in  a  tone  of  triumph  ;  "  and  I  was  called  the  best 
one  in  the  whole  South.  I  know  all  the  public  men  in 
Washington  and  Richmond,  and  in  both  places  they  trust- 
ed me.  My  services  were  so  valuable  to  Mr.  Davis  and 
his  cabinet,  that  they  kept  me  constantly  employed  on  my 
missions." 

"  Missions  of  peril,"  I  remarked. 

"  No  ;  far  from  it.  The  Yankees  never  harmed  me,  or 
offered  to.  The  wretches  have  enough  self-respect  to 
abstain  from  insulting  an  unprotected  female." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  so  good  an  account  of  them,"  I  re- 
marked. "  They  will  grow  wiser  in  time." 

"•  Before  that  happens  the  South  will  have  secured  its 
independence." 

"  Perhaps  so.  You  are  a  bold  woman.  But  there  is 
one  thing  you  have  not  told  me.  Why  did  the  negroes 
molest  you  ?  " 

"  I  know  not,  unless  it  is  with  the  intention  of  cut- 
ting short  my  usefulness  ;  for  I  believe  the  wretches  are 
more  in  favor  of  the  North  than  the  South. '' 

"  It  would  be  just  like  them,"  I  remarked,  in  a  dry  tone. 
"They  seem  capable  of  most  anything." 

"  Yes  ;  but  if  I  was  free,  i  would  pay  them  foi  such 
treachery  " 


284  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  I  suppose  you  would,"  I  simply  said. 

Then  the  female  spy,  overcome  by  her  feelings,  uttei  d 
several  dismal  groans  in  succession,  which  so  exasperated 
one  of  the  negro  guards,  that  he  opened  the  upper  door, 
and  swore  he  would  "  come  down  dar  and  choke  her 
if  she  didn't  shut  up  her  head ;  "  while,  in  spite  of 
groans,  toads,  spiders,  dampness,  and  the  peculiarities  of 
my  situation,  I  sat  down  on  the  cold  ground,  and  went  to 
sleep. 

I  think  that  I  slept  several  hours ;  for  I  was  tired  and 
worn  out  with  the  excitement  of  the  previous  night.  When 
I  awoke,  I  found  several  toads  nestling  on  my  breast, 
where  they  had  sought  refuge  for  the  purpose  of  sharing 
the  warmth  of  my  body.  I  did  not  shake  them  off  with 
the  disgust  which  I  had  previously  manifested.  I  began 
to  look  on  them  as  companions,  not  agreeable  ones,  but  to 
be  endured  because  we  were  in  the  same  cell,  and  could 
not  escape,  or  obtain  that  freedom  which  I  at  least  so  much 
desired,  even  if  the  reptiles  did  not  wish  to  see  the  sun, 
or  even  a  glimmer  of  daylight,  once  more. 

Hour  after  hour  passed.  I  paced  my  cell  until  I  was 
tired,  and  could  hardly  stand  ;  and  then  I  lay  down,  and 
went  to  sleep.  I  was  wakened  by  a  war  of  words,  an 
outcry,  a  struggle ;  and  jumping  to  my  feet,  the  toads 
hopped  to  the  right  and  left  as  I  started  up.  Light  was 
entering  the  chinks  of  the  door  of  my  cell,  but  none  of 
the  cracks  were  large  enough  to  permit  me  to  see  what 
was  going  on.  I  listened  attentively,  and  heard  a  strug- 
gle as  the  negroes  attempted  to  force  some  one  down 
stairs.  For  a  few  minutes  it  was  carried  on  without  words ; 
but  at  length  the  slaves  lost  all  patience,  and  I  heard  them 
threaten  as  though  they  were  in  earnest.  Then  a  familiar 
voice  replied  to  the  intimidations,  — 

"  Shucks  !  Do  yer  think  ye  kin  frighten  me,  yer  black 
rascals  ?  Look  'e  here ;  I've  licked  a  dozen  jest  sech 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  £85 

niggers  as  you  is  afore  breakfast,  and  never  thought  much 
of  it.  Don't  roll  up  the  whites  of  yer  eyes  to  me,  my 
boys  ;  'cos  I  ain't  in  the  least  afeard  of  yer.  You  has  me 
in  a  trap ;  but  dog  on  me  ef  I  ain't  Kaiiituck  enough  to 
break  out  of  it  if  yer  give  me  a  chance,  now  I  tell  yer." 

"  But  we  don't  'tend  to  let  yer  out,  sah,"  replied  one  of 
the  negroes.  "  We  means  to  hold  on  to  you ;  dat's  what 
we  means.  You  is  too  waluable,  old  man,  to  let  loose  and 
run  round  most  anywhar." 

"You  .black  dogs  !  "  was  the  angry  rejoinder,  "  ef  I  had 
yer  in  Charleston,  I'd  pay  yer  for  this ;  dog  on  me  ef  I 
wouldn't,  now  ;  though  thar  ain't  a  man  in  old  Kaintuck 
what  treats  his  niggers  as  well  as  I  does,  and  would  be 
more  glad  to  git  rid  on  'em,  forever  and  ever,  amen  ;  for 
we  has  been  cussed  enough  with  yer." 

" Den  why  don't  yer  stop  it?  "  asked  one  of  the  slaves. 
"  Dat  am  de  question." 

"  'Cos  we  is  obstinate  people,  Cuffee.  We  don't  like  to 
be  driv.  Don't  yer  shove  me  that  way.  Hands  off,  yer 
black  scoundrel.  What!  yer  will,  hey?" 

Then  followed  the  sounds  of  a  desperate  struggle  ;  and 
curses  and  blows  were  scattered  quite  freely.  I  knew 
that  the  Kentuckian  would  make  a  desperate  fight,  and 
had  my  fears  that  the  slaves  would  kill  him ;  but  it  seemed 
that  they  did  not  desire  to  take  his  life  ;  for  they  used  no 
weapons  except  their  hands,  but  those  quite  recklessly  and 
/reely. 

But  numbers  got  the  better  of  Bowmount.  He  was  over- 
powered and  crushed  ;  and  then  the  negroes  lifted  him  up, 
and  pitched  him  into  the  cell  next  to  the  one  that  I 
occupied.  The  door  was  slammed  to,  bolted  and  barred  ; 
and  then  the  slaves  began  comparing  damages,  and  at 
the  same  time  taunting  the  Kentuckian  with  what  he 
had  done. 

At  last  the  Kentuckian  became  speechless  in  his  rage  ; 


286  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

and  then,  when  the  negroes  found  that  it  was  useless  to 
taunt  him  further,  they  departed,  in  high  glee  at  the  suc- 
cess of  their  little  scheme. 

For  half  an  hour  all  was  quiet  in  the  cells.  I  did  not 
speak,  fearing  that  one  of  the  negroes  was  posted  on  the 
watch  for  the  purpose  of  listening  to  what  passed  between 
Bowmount  and  myself.  The  Kentuckian  would  recover 
from  his  fit  of  anger,  but  still  gave  no  sign  that  such  was 
the  case. 

All  at  once,  without  previous  warning,  the  female  spy^ 
who  had  remained  remarkably  quiet  during  the  struggle, 
as  though  she  rather  enjoyed  it  than  otherwise,  commenced 
uttering  some  of  her  extraordinary  groans,  the  peculiarity 
of  which  I  have  before  alluded  to.  Twice  she  sounded 
her  notes  of  warning  before  Bowmount  roused  himself  to 
make  a  response. 

"  Shucks  !  what's  that  ?  "  he  growled,  wonderingly. 

Another  groan  was  the  answer. 

"  Look  'e  here ! "  he  fairly  yelled ;  "if  you  niggers  is  up  to 
some  more  of  your  tricks,  just  shut  down  on  'em  ;  'cos  I  tell 
yerthey  won't  go  down  with  me.  I  know  'em,  and  don't 
care  for  'em.  All  the  niggers  in  old  Kaintuck  can't  fool 
me  a  mite." 

A  more  terrible  groan  was  the  response. 

I  had  become  satisfied  that  none  of  the  darkies  were 
listening,  and  so  spoke  to  Bowmount  in  a  whisper ;  but, 
to  my  surprise,  he  seemed  to  regard  it  as  another  device 
of  the  enemy,  and  roared  out,  — 

"To  the  dickens  with  you,  you  black  scoundrel! 
Don't  bother  me  now  that  I'm  caged  and  disarmed.  You've 
trapped  me,  and  that  ought  to  satisfy  you." 

"  Hush  !  "  I  cried.  "  Listen  to  me.  You  know  my 
voice — don't  you  ?  " 

"  You  black  scamp  !  if  I  had  hold  of  you  for  a  second, 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  £87 

41  Bowmount  ?   Don't  be  a  goose.    Hear  me  a  moment." 

u  Who  is  it  ?  " 

44  It's  Barnwell." 

*4  My  God  I  you  don't  say  so  I  Is  it  possible  that  you 
are  here  ?  " 

44  Yes.     I  was  trapped  and  caged  in  a  simple  manner." 

44  But  I  warn't.  They  told  me  that  you  was  sick,  and 
wanted  to  see  me.  I  said,  4  Show  me  where  he  is,  and  I'll 
have  him  cured  if  money  can  do  it.'  Then  I  put  a  bottle 
of  A  No.  1  whiskey  in  my  pocket,  and  got  into  a  carriage 
John  said  had  been  sent  for  me." 

44  And  they  drove  you  here." 

44  Yes  ;  that  whitewashed  nigger  John,  and  a  big  black 
chap  they  called  Sam.  And  he  took  my  watch,  and  be 
hanged  to  him." 

Just  then,  the  woman,  who  had  been  silent  for  some 
time,  uttered  a  dismal  groan,  as  though  she  sympathized 
with  the  Kentuckian  in  his  misfortunes. 

"  Ah  !  no  wonder  you  grunt,"  cried  the  practical  Ken- 
tuckian. 

44  O,  ray  dear  good  man  !  "  cried  she,  utterly  ignoring 
Bowmount's  remark,  44  can't  you  get  me  out  of  this  ?  " 

44  Humph,"  muttered  he,  "  I'd  like  to  see  myself  gittin' 
out,  or  else  gittin'  a  drink  of  whiskey.  If  you'll  open  my 
door,  I'll  open  yours  ;  and  then  we'll  help  one  another." 

"  I  wish  I  could,"  was  the  dismal  response. 

44  So  do  I,  with  all  my  heart.  If  wishes  had  any  effect, 
then  I'd  have  a  bottle  of  old  rye  in  the  twinkling  of  an 
eye." 

I  heard  my  eccentric  friend  kick  at  the  toads,  so  that  he 
could  clear  a  place  and  lie  down,  and  in  a  few  minutes,  by 
his  deep  breathing,  knew  that  he  was  asleep.  I  thought 
that  I  could  not  do  better  than  follow  his  example ;  and 
mucn,  no  doubt,  to  the  gratification  of  my  companions,  I 
soon  afforded  them  a  resting-place,  for  when  I  awoke  1 


288  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

found  toads  roosting  on  my  breast,  as  contented  as  toads 
are  supposed  to  be. 

I  removed  them  as  gently  as  possible  ;  but  Bowmount 
was  not  so  forbearing  when  he  awoke.  lie  hurled  the 
harmless  things  across  his  den,  uttered  some  frightful 
growls  and  oaths,  and  then  arose  and  shook  himself  like  a 
wild  beast. 

"  Did  you  have  a  good  sleep  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  No.  How  in  the  deuce  is  a  man  to  sleep  on  the  ground  ? 
Bah !  I'm  all  cramps  and  cold.  A  bottle  of  whiskey  would 
now  be  worth  a  fortune.  O  for  one  good  pull  at  a  flask  !  " 

Then  for  a  few  moments  "he  thrashed  round  the  den, 
to  circulate  his  blood ;  but  soon  stopped  all  noise,  and 
seemed  to  meditate  over  some  project.  Presently  he 
whispered,  — 

"Barn  well,  old  feller !" 

"  Yes  ;  what  is  it  ?  " 

"  Darn  me  if  I  ain't  found  a  chisel  in  my  cell." 

"Is  it  good  for  anything  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  quite  stout  and  sharp." 

"  Can  you  work  with  it  ?  " 

"  Work  with  it  ?  Why,  man  alive,  I  could  open  half 
the  jail  doors  in  old  Kaintuck  with  it." 

"  Never  mind  Kentucky.  Can  you  open  your  door, 
and  then  mine?" 

"  Shucks !  I'll  try  it,  dog  on  me  if  I  don't.  You  jest 
lay  low,  and  look  out  for  ducks.  If  them  nigs  will  give 
me  a  chance  to  work,  I'll  go  through  the  door  like  a  dose 
of  corn-juice." 

I  was  willing  to  put  trust  in  his  promises,  so  waited 
patiently  for  him  to  commence  operations. 

"  Now,  then,"  he  said,  after  he  had  made  a  brief  exami- 
nation of  the  cell,  "  you  just  whistle  or  sing,  and  I'll  work. 
If  that  woman  could  groan  a  little,  I  wouldn't  object.  It 
might  help  us  some." 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  289 

I  commenced  the  task  assigned  me,  and  Bowmount  went 
to  work  with  vigor,  yet  did  not  make  noise  enough  to 
al  tract  the  attention  of  the  negroes  who  were  on  guard 
jast  above  us.  After  an  hour's  labor,  I  ventured  to  ask 
how  he  was  succeeding. 

"  Bully,"  was  the  reply.  "  Keep  whistling.  I'm  doing 
well." 

I  recommenced,  and  went  through  all  the  tunes  that  I 
knew,  —  Dixie,  Yankee  Doodle,  and  Hail  Columbia,  com- 
ing in  for  a  share  ;  the  two  latter  causing  the  confederate 
spy  to  utter  some  dismal  groans,  as  though  in  remonstrance 
at  such  wickedness.  At  length  the  Kentuckian  tore  off  a 
piece  of  the  oak  door  with  less  caution  than  usual ;  and 
the  noise  drowned  my  music,  and  attracted  the  attention 
of  the  negro  who  stood  at  the  head  of  the  stairs. 

"  What  dat  you  do  dar,  hey  ?  "  he  demanded,  opening 
a  door. 

We  returned  no  answer. 

"  What  noise  dat  I  hear?  " 

"I  want  something  to  eat,"  I  said.  "I  am  hungry. 
Give  me  a  hoe-cake,  or  I'll  whistle  all  night." 

"  Can't  do  it  now,  sah,"  replied  the  negro,  in  a  tone 
that  was  far  from  brutal.  "  Yer  see  the  nigs  is  all  off  on  a 
stealin'  raid,  and  only  me  and  one  oder  is  here  to  look  arter 
you  fellers.  If  I  had  de  grub,  you  should  hab  it.  De 
best  dat  I  kin  do  is  to  gib  you  water  all  round,  and  dat'll 
have  to  do  yer  till  the  nigs  comes  back  wid  some  dings." 

"  We  don't  want  water.     We  have  enough  of  that." 

The  door  closed  with  a  slam,  and  for  half  an  hour  Bow- 
mount  remained  silent,  fearing  to  work,  thinking  that  he 
might  be  overheard  by  the  sentinels.  But,  when  we  sup- 
posed that  our  vigilant  colored  guard  was  asleep,  the  chisel 
was  once  more  called  into  use.  The  Kentuckian  then 
labored  with  such  vigor,  that,  in  an  hour's  time,  -he  an- 
nounced, with  a  mighty  effort  suppressing  a  shout  of 


290  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

exultation,  that  his  door  was  open,  and  he  had  free  run  of 
the  cellar. 

"  Now  what  shall  I  do  ?  "  he  asked.  "  Shall  I  pitch 
into  the  niggers  single-handed,  and  kill  'em;  or  had  I 
better  help  you  out  first,  and  then  join  forces?" 

"  Help  me  out,  and  then  we'll  see  what  can  be  done." 

"  The  chisel  is  dull,  and  my  hands  are  bleeding." 

"  Then  why  not  escape  without  delay,  and  return  with 
a  force  strong  enough  to  rescue  me  ?  " 

"  Thar  is  somethin'  in  that,"  muttered  the  Kentuckian. 

"  There  is  much  in  the  suggestion  that  will  meet  your 
views  when  I  tell  you  that  it  is  the  only  course  that  will 
save  your  life  and  my  own.  Of  course  you  cannot  hope  to 
liberate  me  for  an  hour  or  more." 

"  That's  so,  Barnwell.     Dog  on  the  chisel  !  it's  so  dull." 

"  Well,  suppose  the  negroes  should  enter  the  cellar 
while  you  were  at  work  ;  wouldn't  they  see  that  you  had 
operated  on  the  door  ?  " 

"  Shucks  !  of  course  they  would.  If  they  had  eyes, 
they'd  see  the  splinters.  How  could  they  help  it  ?  " 

"  And,  as  soon  as  they  made  the  discovery,  we  should  be 
shot,  or  ironed  in  a  secure  manner,  with  no  hope  of  escape." 

"  Yes ;  the  nigs  would  light  on  us  like  June-bugs." 

"  Then  see  if  it  is  not  possible  to  escape  before  the  raid- 
ing gang  returns." 

"  But,  shucks,  Barnwell !  I  can't  leave  you  here  alf 
alone." 

"  I  shan't  be  alone.  Don't  you  know  that  the  groaning 
lady  will  keep  me  company  until  you  return?  " 

"Yes;  but  dog  on  sech  company  as  that.  It's  wuseer 
than  none." 

"  Then  I  have  my  toads." 

"  The  wannints." 

"  They  will  prevent  me  from  growing  rusty.  Do  as  I 
request  you.  Leave  this  place,  and  come  back  and  rescue 
me." 


PF«*  sliwBL'  >'   .  1 


A  STRUGGLE  IN  THE  HAUNTED  HOUSE.  - 


Page  291. 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  291 

"  If  I  thought  that  you  wouldn't  think  hard  of  me,  old 
fellow." 

"  Not  a  hard  thought  shall  cross  my  mind.  I  tell  you 
that  it  is  the  only  safe  plan.  Lose  no  time,  but  leave  at 
once.  Crowd  sail,  and  be  off." 

"  I  will,  old  feller.  Good  by  till  I  sees  yer  agin.  I'll 
come  back,  unless  they  lets  daylight  into  me." 

He  then  moved  from  the  door ;  and  I  could  hear  him 
feel  his  way  to  the  stairs,  and  ascend  them  in  so  soft  and 
quiet  a  manner,  that  I  knew  he  had  taken  off  his  boots,  and 
was  proceeding  in  his  stocking-feet.  I  listened  in  breath- 
less silence  for  the  result  of  the  Kentuckian's  venture, 
uncertain  how  he  would  proceed.  Presently  I  heard  a 
light  tap  on  the  door,  as  though  produced  by  the  foot  of 
an  impatient  cat,  anxious  to  escape  from  the  cella^ .  It 
did  not  arouse  the  negro  sentinel,  however ;  so  the  tap 
was  succeeded  by  others,  until,  at  last,  the  slave  unbarred 
and  opened  the  door,  growling  impatiently,  —  . 

"What  is  all  dis  about?" 

He  had  no  time  to  utter  more  ;  for  the  wiry  Kentuckian 
at  the  instant  seized  him  by  the  throat,  hurled  him  down 
the  stairs,  and  closed  and  bolted  the  door.  The  slave 
struck  on  his  head,  and  so  was  not  injured  in  the  least. 
He  appeared  to  rub  the  parts  that  came  in  contact  with 
the  stones  and  boards,  and  I  could  hear  him  muttering  to 
himself,  — 

"  What  de  world  does  all  dis  mean,  I'd  like  to  know  ? 
How  come  dis  chile  here?  " 

As  no  answer  was  returned  to  this  pertinent  question, 
the  negro,  after  a  moment,  continued  to  soliloquize  :  — 

"  De  fust  t'ing  I  knows,  I  was  down  here  when  I 
ought  er  be  up  dar.  Bress  de  Lord  !  if  I  don't  b'lieve  dat 
wild  bull  of  a  Kentuckian  is  out  and  off.  Is  you  in  dar, 
old  Kaintuck?" 

There  was  no  answer.     I  thought  it  best  to  pietend 

sleep. 

20 


292  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 

"  Blame  me  if  I  don't  t'iuk  he's  gone.  What  de  world 
will  I  do  ?  How  can  I  get  out,  and  go  arter  him  ?  What 
kind  ob  a  way  am  dis  to  treat  a  man  ?  What  will  de  udders 
say  when  dey  comes  back  ?  By  gracious,  but  dis  do  beat 
eberyt'ing." 

The  slave  continued  to  grumble  until  even  the  female 
spy  could  not  stand  it ;  so  she  uttered  a  deep  groan, 
expressive  of  her  disgust.  This  started  the  negro  on  a 
new  topic,  and  he  exclaimed,  — 

"  Stop  dat  nonsense,  will  yer  ?  What  de  dikens  yer 
mean  by  makin'  such  a  noise  as  dat  are  ?  Don't  yer  know 
dat  I  don't  like  it  ?  If  yer  must  do  so,  jist  wait  till  dis 
chile  gits  out  ob  de  way.  O  de  Lord  !  who  dat  ?  " 

I  had  spoken  to  him  ;  but  such  was  his  terror,  he  was 
not  disposed  to  think  my  voice  a  human  one. 

"Don't  be  alarmed,  Sambo,"  I  said.  "Nothing  will 
harm  you." 

"  I  ain't  alarmed  a  bit,  massa,"  he  replied,  his  tone  a 
little  shaky  yet ;  "  but  yer  did  rudder  gib  me  a  start,  now 
dat  am  a  fact.  I  fought  you  hab  gone  wid  dat  wild 
Kentuckian,  dat  we  had  so  much  trouble  to  git  here.  I's 
glad  dat  I  has  you  and  dat  groaner  left  to  show  de  nigs  dat 
[  has  had  my  eyes  open." 

I  talked  with  the  slave  for  an  hour,  for  I  was  glad  of 
the  opportunity ;  and,  without  revealing  my  true  charac- 
ter, gave  him  some  hints  as  to  the  intensions  of  the  Yan- 
kees. Finally  the  door  of  the  cellar  was  unbolted,  and 
some  one  asked,  — 

"  Sambo,  is  you  dar  ?  " 

The  answer  came  rather  ungraciously. 

"Yes;  I  be." 

"  What  de  world  you  doin'  dar?  Who  tole  yer  to  go 
down,  and  den  bolt  yerself  in  ?  " 

"  Nobody." 

"  Den  wot  yer  do  it  fur  ?  " 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  293 

"  'Cos  I  couldn't  help  myself.  Dat  am  de  reason,  you 
ignorant  nigger  you." 

"  Will  yer  'splain  about  it  ?  " 

"  Well,  den,  while  you  was  gone,  dat  wild  bull  of  a 
Kentuckian  bust  Trough  de  door  widout  any  warnin',  grab 
me  by  de  neck,  chuck  me  down  de  stairs,  and  den  bolts 
de  door,  and  cuts  and  runs.  I  is  here ;  but  where  de  dikens 
dat  Kentuckian  is,  I  don't  know.  Dat's  all  about  it." 

The  slaves  uttered  a  howl  of  indignation,  and  would 
have  vented  their  spite  upon  Sambo  if  some  one  had  not 
interfered,  and  put  a  stop  to  the  row.  Who  it  was  I  had 
no  means  of  learning ;  but  he  seemed  to  have  some  power 
over  the  negroes ;  for  I  could  hear  him  order  Sambo  from 
the  cellar,  and  bid  the  slaves  close  the  door,  and  talk  less, 
—  all  of  which  was  obeyed.  It  was  a  white  man  who 
assumed  charge,  and  he  made  those  around  him  obey  like 
a  person  who  was  accustomed  to  discipline. 

All  noise  ceased.  If  there  was  any  discussion,  it  was 
carried  on  in  subdued  tones,  so  that  I  could  not  hear  it, 
much  as  I  tried  to ;  but,  after  waiting  an  hour  or  more,  a 
gang  entered  the  cellar,  and  opened  the  door  of  my  cell. 

"  Come,"  Sambo  said  ;  "  you  is  wanted." 

"  Who  wants  me  ?  " 

"  Never  yer  mind  dat.  You  jist  come  along,  and  don't 
ax  questions.  Now,  den,  no  tricks  on  us;  'cos  we  is  ready 
for  wiolence  of  any  kinds." 

I  could  see,  by  the  torches  which  the  slaves  carried,  that 
all  the  men  were  armed,  some  with  pistols  and  knives,  and 
others  with  knives  and  no  pistols.  As  there  was  no  doubt 
in  my  mind  but  that  the  negroes  would  use  their  weapons 
in  case  of  necessity,  I  concluded  to  accompany  them,  the 
more  readily  because  I  was  anxious  to  leave  the  den  where 
I  had  been  confined  for  so  many  hours. 

"  Sambo,"  I  said,  "  I  would  like  to  know  if  I  am  to 
come  back  to  my  cell." 

"  What  for  you  want  to  know  dat." 


294  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 

"  Because  I  have  some  companions  in  here  whom  I  whh 
to  take  leave  of  if  I  am  not  to  see  them  again." 

The  slaves  thought  I  meant  human  beings  ;  for  they 
jumped  back,  and  laid  their  tawny  hands  on  their  pistols 
and  knives,  fearing  a  Kentuckiaa-like  attack. 

"Whar  am  dem  companions  what  you  speak  of?" 
Sambo  demanded. 

"  Those  three  or  four  toads  which  you  see  in  the 
corner." 

The  negroes  peered  at  them  by  the  aid  of  their  torches, 
and  then  laughed,  while  Sambo  remarked,  — 

"  You  don't  take  dis  t'ing  berry  hard  —  does  you  ?  " 

"  No  ;  why  should  I  ?  " 

"  Well,  massa,  dat  is  for  yous  to  find  out.  You  isn't  a 
bad  rebel,  I  reckon,  even  if  you  is  a  South  Carlinian  ;  so 
I'll  do  what  I  can  for  ycr ;  but  blast  dat  Kaintuck  !  he's 
de  dikens  and  all.  We  has  no  mercy  for  white  trasl 
what  forces  a  colored  gemman  down  stairs  when  de  gem- 
man  don't  want  to  go." 

The  colored  guards  closed  around  me,  marched  me  uj 
the  cellar-stairs,  Sambo  leading  the  way,  a  pistol  in  one 
hand,  and  a  long,  sharp  knife  in  the  other.  His  compan- 
ions carried  the  pine  torches,  the  smoke  from  which  was 
dense  and  black  enough  to  suffocate  one,  causing  the 
female  spy  to  utter  the  most  dismal  groans,  much  to  the 
enjoyment  of  the  slaves,  who  appeared  to  have  but  little 
sympathy  for  her  sufferings. 

Into  the  large  room,  on  the  ground  floor,  I  was  marched  ; 
and  there  I  found  some  ten  or  twelve  other  slaves,  with 
only  one  settee  for  the  entire  party ;  consequently  the 
apartment  was  not  so  full  of  smoke  but  that  I  could 
breathe,  although  but  little  air  entered  the  room,  on 
account  of  the  windows  being  boarded  up  on  the  outside. 

"  You  jist  stand  dar  !  "  cried  Sambo,  who  seemed  to 
rank  as  sergeant,  and  to  have  recovered  the  ground  which 
he  had  lost  through  the  escape  of  Bowmount. 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  295 

He  pointed  to  a  corner  of  the  apartment,  the  one 
farthest  from  the  door  and  windows,  as  though  he  feared 
I  would  make  a  flying  leap,  and  disappear  from  their 
sight.  I  assumed  the  station  allotted  to  me. 

"  Now  tell  'em  that  we  is  ready,"  Sambo  commanded  in 
a  pompous  tone. 

One  of  the  slaves  left  the  room ;  and,  while  I  was 
wondering  what  was  up,  he  returned,  preceding  two 
white  men  and  half  a  dozen  negroes.  Among  the  latter  I 
recognized  John,  the  mulatto  ;  but  his  white  companions  I 
did  not  know,  their  faces  being  concealed  by  slouched  hats, 
and  coat  collars  turned  up. 

"  This  is  the  rebel  I  spoke  to  you  about,"  John  said, 
stepping  forward  as  master  of  ceremonies.  "  He  is  one 
of  the  most  dangerous  men  I  ever  saw.  He  is  bold 
and  unscrupulous  to  such  a  degree  that  no  one  is  safe  who 
ventures  to  differ  from  him.  He  is  a  great  prize,  and  must 
be  taken  care  of." 

I  saw  one  of  the  white  men  start,  as  he  looked  me 
over,  as  though  surprised  at  seeing  me  ;  but  as  I  kept  my 
eyes  towards  the  person,  interested  in  his  movements,  I 
noticed  that  the  slouched  hat  was  partly  removed,  just 
enough  to  show  me  the  handsome  and  boyish  face  of  Mr. 
Harry  Bluff,  alias  Reefpoint,  alias  English  Harry,  alias 
English  seaman,  the  Yankee  midshipman  on  board  the 
Stingere-e,  Captain  Switchell.  A  finger  was  laid  on  the 
lad's  lips  as  a  token  of  silence,  or  I  should  have  uttered 
an  exclamation  of  astonishment. 

"  Bah!  "  said  the  midshipman,  in  a  tone  of  contempt; 
"he  don't  look  dangerous.  The  Yankees  could  walk 
through  a  million  such  men,  and  not  exert  themselves." 

"  You  don't  know  him  !  "  cried  the  mulatto,  in  an  eager 
tone.  "  He  is,  one  of  the  most  dangerous  men  in  the 
rebel  states.  A  person  who  can  bamboozle  an  admiral, 
run  his  ship  past  the  entire  fleet,  and  laugh  at  the  \*  hole 
Yankee  forces,  is  one  to  be  looked  after." 


296  RUNNING   THE  BLOCKADE. 

"But  where  is  the  other  character  ?  Where  is  the  rebel 
Kentuckian,  the  owner  of  the  steamer  Belle  ?  He  is  the 
desperate  one,  I  should  suspect.  Trot  him  out.  Let  us 
look  at  him.  If  he  is  as  desperate  as  you  say  he  is,  we'll 
take  care  of  him,  and  give  him  safe  quarters." 

The  negroes  remained  silent.  Mr.  Reefpoint's  compan- 
ion, who  I  saw  was  a  young  petty  officer  of  the  Stinge- 
ree,  intimated  that,  if  it  was  not  too  much  trouble,  he 
should  like  to  see  the  Kentucky  roarer. 

"  We  had  trouble  enough  with  him,"  said  the  mulatto, 
gnashing  his  teeth  ;  "but,  in  spite  of  all  our  precautions,' 
the  rascal  has  escaped  from  our  clutches." 

Then  the  negroes  yelled  in  chorus,  — 

"Hallelujah  I  hallelujah!  see  him  run, 

Run,  run,  run  I 
May  de  diken  catch  him, 
Catch  him,  catch  him, 
And  jerk  him  to  kingdom  come, 
Come,  come  1  " 

A  relic  of  their  plantation  days,  when  all  hands  were 
compelled  to  listen  to  the  preaching  of  one  of  their  own 
number,  and  sang  extempore  songs  in  praise  of  Him  whom 
they  worshipped  in  their  rude  way. 

"  Tell  your  friends  to  stop  that  howling,"  said  Mr.  Reef- 
point.  "  I  don't  want  a  squad  of  confederate  soldiers 
corning  down  on  me  like  a  thousand  of  brick.  The  less 
noise  we  have  about  this  business,  the  better." 

"  There  is  no  fear,  sah,"  replied  an  old  negro.  "  Dis 
house  am  haunted,  and  no  white  man  come  near  it  in  de 
night  time.  De  more  noise  we  make,  de  less  dey  come 
here." 

John  looked  at  my  watch,  — for,  by  some  means  or 
other,  the  rascal  had  obtained  it  from  Sam,  —  and  an- 
nounced that  it  was  time  to  make  a  movement  of  some 
kind  or  other. 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  297 

"  It  is  three  o'clock,"  he  said.  "  In  a  few  minntes  we 
shall  have  daylight ;  and  then  the  men  will  have  to  take 
to  the  swamp,  and  keep  concealed  till  dark.  You  should 
be  on  your  way  unless  you  intend  to  remain  with  us  until 
to-morrow." 

"  Which  course  is  the  safest?  " 

Mr.  Reefpoint  pondered  this  question  in  a  careless  tone, 
as  though  he  was  rather  indifferent  on  the  subject. 

"  My  advice,"  John  replied  in  a  decisive  tone,  "  is  to 
leave  at  once." 

"What  is  there  to  fear?" 

"  That  escaped  Kentuckian  is  more  to  be  feared  than 
you  suppose.  If  he  clears  the  swamps,  he  will  bring  a 
squad  of  soldiers  down  upon  us.  Then  our  secret  is  dis- 
covered, the  house  taken  possession  of,  and  a  hound-like 
hunt  for  our  gang.  You  must  get  out  of  the  way  of  all 
danger." 

This  caused  a  sensation  in  the  negro  ranks ;  and  several 
dark  looks  were  cast  at  Sambo,  who  had  been  on  guard 
when  Bowmount  made  his  escape. 

"  That  would  be  awkward,"  Mr.  Reefpoint  remarked. 
"  I  have  no  desire  to  see  rebel  soldiers  so  far  from  salt 
water.  Put  the  darbies  on  the  prisoner,"  said  the  midship- 
man, addressing  the  petty  officer  at  his  side.  "  We  must 
make  all  safe." 

When  the  slaves  heard  the  click  of  the  irons,  they  were 
inclined  to  be  jubilant,  and  hardly  knew  whether  they  had 
better  dance  or  shout  in  chorus.  Already  had  they  com- 
menced shuffling  their  feet,  and  began  to  throw  back  their 
heads,  for  the  purpose  of  expressing  their  joy,  when  Mr. 
Reefpoint  interfered,  and  checked  the  outburst. 

"  None  of  your  confounded  noise  at  this  time  of  morn- 
ing," he  said.  "Wait  till  I'm  out  of  sight  before  you 
put  on  steam.  Come  ;  we  must  start.  Let  the  pilot  lead 
the  way,  and  we'll  follow  him." 


298  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

A  young  and  vigorous  negro  stood  forth  as  the  person 
who  was  to  lead  us  to  salt  water.  He  had  a  knapsack  on 
his  shoulders,  and  a  revolver  and  bowie-knife  in  his  belt. 
He  looked  just  like  a  person  who  would  endure  much  toil 
and  privation  to  maintain  a  principle ;  so  I  was  not 
surprised  to  learn  that  he  was  the  regular  guide  for 
those  adventurous  Yankees  who  landed  on  the  coast,  and 
penetrated  to  the  interior  of  South  Carolina,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  holding  consultations  with  the  negroes,  and  receiv- 
ing important  prisoners  whom  the  slaves  had  captured. 

"  I  am  ready,"  said  the  young  blaclc,  opening  the  door. 

"  Now,  Mr.  Rebel,"  cried  the  midshipman,  "  will  you 
go  along  peaceably,  or  will  you  be  led  ?  " 

"  Peaceably,"  I  replied. 

"  On  your  honor  ?  " 

"  On  my  honor,  I  will  make  no  effort  to  escape  unless 
you  approve  of  the  same." 

"  I'm  satisfied." 

Then,  turning  to  the  mulatto,  he  said  in  a  louder  tone, — 

"  Good  by,  John.  Let  us  hear  from  you,  as  soon  as 
possible,  in  relation  to  the  subject  I  spoke  to  you  about." 

It  was  not  until  we  had  left  the  broad  avenue,  nearly 
overgrown  with  grass  from  utter  neglect  and  disuse,  and 
struck  across  the  country,  that  the  midshipm'an  spoke  to 
me  ;  and  then  it  was  in  a  whisper,  so  that  the  negro  pilot 
could  not  overhear  him. 

"  I  found  you  in  a  bad  fix,  Mr.  Barnwell,"  he  said. 

"  Yes,"  I  responded  eagerly ;  "  but  it  might  have  been 
worse." 

"  Egad,  I  don't  know  about  that.  Are  you  aware  that 
those  fellows  hain't  much  conscience  when  a  white  rebel 
is  concerned  ?  " 

"  So  I  should  suppose  ;  but  I  was  not  in  the  least 
alarmed  for  my  safety." 

"The  deuce!  Will  you  tell  me  who  you  are,  sir?  for  I 
don't  know  for  certain  if  you  are  loyal  or  rebel." 


RUNNING    THE    BLOCKADE.  299 

"  Certainly.     I  am  an  officer  in  the  confederate  navy." 

"  Gammon  !     Excuse  me,  but  I  don't  believe  it." 

"  Just  as  you  please.     Now  let  me  ask  you  a  question." 

"  Fire  away." 

"  Well,  how  does  it  happen  that  I  see  you  on  such  duty 
as  this  ?  I  supposed  you  were  on  your  way  north  in  the 
Spitfire." 

"  O,  Captain  Switchell  said  that  I  was  very  useful  to 
him ;  so  transferred  me  to  the  Stingeree.  We  chased 
a  blockade-runner  as  far  as  Fort  Sumter ;  and  then  I  re- 
ceived orders  to  land,  and  follow  the  lead  of  this  black 
pilot.  Barnes  and  I  had  a  sweet  time  of  it,  last  night, 
riding  through  swamps  and  jungles,  cruising  around  hills 
to  avoid  the  rebs,  and  getting  shot  on  suspicion  that  we 
were  a  parcel  of  darkies  on  a  raid." 

"  You'd  better  believe  it,"  muttered  Barnes,  the  petty 
officer.  "  It  was  awful  cruisin'-ground,  and  a  feller  had  to 
feel  his  way." 

"  Or  else  run  the  risk  of  feeling  lead,"  remarked  the 
middy,  as  though  he  cared  but  little  for  danger,  provided 
he  could  share  some  excitement. 

"  You  are  a  rash  boy,  and  Captain  Switchell  should 
have  known  better  than  to  have  sent  you  on  such  an 
expedition,"  I  said. 

"  O,  I  don't  know  about  that.  Some  one  had  got  to  go, 
and  I  as  well  as  another.  I  suppose  that  my  neck  is  no 
more  precious  than  Barnes's,  and  yet  Barnes  volunteered 
to  accompany  me." 

"  Of  course  I  did,  Mr.  Barnwell.  I  likes  a  lark  as  well 
as  the  next  one,  and  I  guess  our  prisoner  does  too,  'cos  I 
think  I  has  seen  his  face  on  board  the  Stiugeree." 

"  As  a  prisoner."  I  remarked. 

"  Well,  sir,  you  can  call  it  what  you  please ;  it  don't 
matter  to  me.  Only  I  saw  you  there." 

"  Well,  I  hope  that  you  won't  see  me  again  in  a  hurry," 


300  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

I  remarked  ;  "  for  I  must  leave  you  in  a  few  minutes.  Be 
kind  enough  to  take  off  the  darbies." 

"  What !  ain't  you  going  with  us  ?  "  asked  the  mid  ly, 
in  a  tone  of  astonishment. 

"  Not  this  morning.  You  must  return  to  the  ship  with- 
out me.  Come  ;  remove  the  irons  ;  for  I  have  worn  them 
long  enough  to  accommodate  you." 

"  But  what  shall  I  tell  the  pilot  ?  He'll  think  it  mighty 
strange." 

"  Perhaps  so,  after  he  discovers  the  loss  ;  but  you'll 
notice  that  he  does  not  turn  his  head  very  often  to  look  in 
this  direction  ;  and,  besides,  it  is  dark  ;  so  I  can  slip  away 
quite  readily,  and  be  in  Charleston  by  sunrise." 

"  But  the  admiral  and  captain  will  grumble  if  I  don't 
tow  them  a  prisoner.  They  expected  two  big  ones,  you 
know." 

"  Give  my  compliments  to  Captain  Switchell,  and  tell 
him  that  I  prefer  land  to  water  just  at  present." 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  I'll  do  so." 

Then  off  came  the  irons  that  had  graced  my  wrists. 
Just  as  they  were  removed,  we  crossed  a  road,  and  then 
the  noise  of  ringing  muskets  saluted  our  ears,  and  the 
words,  uttered  as  though  in  earnest,  of,  "  Who  goes 
there?  Halt." 

Our  negro  pilot  gave  one  look,  a  bound,  and  then  landed 
in  a  clump  of  bushes,  and  disappeared  from  the  scene. 
Half  a  dozen  shots  were  fired  ;  and  the  bullets  struck  the 
bushes,  cutting  off  twigs,  and  scattering  them  to  the  right 
and  left,  as  though  distributed  by  a  whirlwind. 

"  LoT)k  after  that  nigger,"  shouted  a  commanding  voice. 
"  Capture  him,  dead  or  alive." 

Half  a  dozen  men,  dressed  in  gray,  sprang  from  their 
ambush,  and,  dashed  after  the  runaway  pilot ;  while  I 
could  see  that  enough  soldiers  remained  to  take  care  of  us. 
I  think  that,  while  I  was  waiting  for  further  commands,  I 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  301 

counted  no  less  than  thirty  musket-barrels  ;  and  all  of 
them  were  pointed  in  our  direction,  ready  to  speak  if  we 
moved  in  opposition  to  commands. 

Even  in  this  moment  of  confusion  I  had  time  to  ask  Mr. 
Reefpoint  and  Barnes  a  question. 

"  Have  you  on  your  person,"  I  asked,  "  a  single  article 
which  will  prove  that  you  belong  to  Uncle  Sam  ?  Speak 
quick,  and  don't  deceive  me." 

"  Not  even  a  button,"  the  midshipman  replied,  as  cool 
as  the  day  we  met  in  Nassau. 

"  Are  you  sure  ?  " 

"  Quite  sure.  We  took  care  of  that  when  we  left  the 
ship." 

"Then  be  guided  by  me,  and  I'll  try  to  save  you. 
Know  nothing  of  the  Yanks.  You  are  common  sailors, 
—  nothing  more,  —  and  here  on  a  lark." 

"Do  you  surrender?"  roared  an  officer,  who  now  ap- 
peared in  front  of  his  line. 

"  Of  course  we  do,  and  mighty  glad  to  find  the  chance," 
I  replied.  "  We  are  unarmed,  and  incapable  of  making 
resistance,  even  if  we  desired  to." 

"  Remember,  let  me  do  all  the  talking,"  I  cried,  in  a  low 
whisper,  when  I  saw  the  soldiers  order  arms,  and  then 
advance  to  surround  us.  "  You  belong  to  the  blockade- 
runner  Belle,  Captain  Barnwell,  now  in  the  port  of 
Charleston.  You  came  out  to  look  for  me,  and  to  have  a 
lark.  Not  a  word  more,  as  you  value  your  neck." 

"  All  right,"  both  of  my  companions  replied. 

Then  they  commenced  whistling  Dixie,  in  regular  sailor 
style,  careless  and  free.  Some  thirty  men  —  dark,  long- 
haired men,  with  dirty  gray  uniforms,  rough  beards,  and 
reckless  manners  —  surrounded  us  before  we  had  time  to 
exchange  another  word. 

"  Who  are  you,  and  where  do  you  hail  from  ?  "  de- 
manded the  officer  who  commanded  the  company. 


302  RUNNING    THE    BLOCKADE. 

"  They  is  Yankee  spies  ;  that's  what  they  is,"  two  or 
three  of  the  confeds  shouted,  giving  us  a  push,  so  that 
they  could  see  our  faces  and  examine  our  persons. 

"  If  they  are  Yankees,  a  rope  and  a  tree  will  make  short 
work  with  them,"  the  officer  said. 

"  Let's  hang  'em  fust,  and  try  'em  arterwards,"  was 
the  cry. 

I  did  not  know  but  that  such  a  course  would  be  adopted 
still  I  did  not  manifest  the  least  impatience  or  fear. 

"  I  reckon  some  of  you  fellers  never  faced  the  Yanks, 
or  you'd  know  them  better  when  you  saw  them,"  I  re- 
marked, in  a  bantering  tone.  "But  I  don't  intend  to 
quarrel  with  you  on  that  account.  I'll  just  tell  you 
who  I  am,  and  see  if  it  won't  satisfy  you." 

The  soldiers  leaned  on  their  guns,  and  the  officers  on 
their  swords,  all  waiting  to  hear  my  yarn,  and  all  pre- 
pared to  disbelieve  it,  no  matter  how  closely  I  stuck  to  the 
truth. 

Just  at  this  moment,  the  six  scouts,  who  had  gone  in 
pursuit  of  the  negro  pilot,  returned  and  reported  that, 
although  they  had  failed  to  capture  the  runaway,  they  had 
secured  his  knapsack  and  blanket,  and  that  in  the  former 
they  had  found  a  bottle  of  whiskey. 

"  Show  it,"  was  the  cry  that  went  up  from  all  hands. 

"  Here  is  the  bottle,"  cried  one,  holding  it  up. 

"  And  the  whiskey  ?  " 
-  "  We've  drank  it." 

A  chorus  of  groans  was  the  response  to  this  excla- 
mation ;  and  one  fellow,  who  seemed  to  feel  especially 
aggravated,  uttered  an  emphatic  hope  that  the  liquor 
would  "  pizen  the  selfish  scamps  what  swallowed  it." 

This  little  episode  over,  the  soldiers  prepared  to  listen 
to  what  I  had  to  utter  in  explanation  of  why  we  were 
there. 

I  commenced  by  telling  the  truth.     I  informed  them 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  303 

that  I  commanded  the  blockade-runner  Belle,  and  that 
the  negroes  had  enticed  me  away  from  the  vessel  on  the 
ground  that  some  one  desired  to  see  me  on  business,  and 
they  had  kept  me  confined  in  a  house  until  within  a  few 
hours,  when  an  opportunity  offered  to  escape,  and  that  I 
had  met  a  negro,  who  had  agreed  to  take  me  to  the  city, 
and  while  on  the  way  I  met  the  two  sailors,  who  had  come 
in  search  of  me,  being  also  on  a  "  lark  "  at  the  same  time. 

As  soon  as  I  had  finished  speaking,  there  was  a  mo- 
ment's silence  ;  and  then  the  captain  of  the  company 
asked,  — 

"  And  you  expect  us  to  believe  all  you  have  said  ?  " 

"I  certainly  do." 

"  Why  do  you  ?  " 

"  Because  it  is  the  truth." 

The  soldiers  uttered  a  shout  of  derision,  and  some  of 
them  laughed  in  a  scornful  manner  at  the  idea  of  their 
swallowing  such  an  improbable  yarn. 

"  Look  here,  my  friend,"  said  the  captain,  as  soon  as 
the  noise  subsided ;  "  we  have  heard  just  such  yarns  be- 
fore ;  and  when  I  tell  you  that  I  don't  believe  it,  I  but 
express  my  convictions.  We  have  often  heard  of  Yan- 
kees landing  on  the  coast,  and  penetrating  inland,  for  the 
purpose  of  acting  the  part  of  spies.  In  fact,  it  was  only 
last  night  we  were  informed  that  a  party  had  come  on 
snore  from  one  of  the  gunboats ;  and  so  we  were  on  the 
lookout  for  you,  with  orders  from  the  general  to  string 
you  up  as  soon  as  we  captured  you." 

"  On  the  supposition  that  we  are  the  ones  who  came 
on  shore  ?  " 

The  captain  bowed,  and  lighted  a  home-made  cigar. 

"  Do  I  look  like  a  spy  ?  "  I  demanded  with  dignity. 

"  You  don't  look  like  anything  else,"  was  the  consoling 
reply. 

"  And  you  won't  believe  the  yarn  that  I  have  related  ?  " 


304  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  I'can  hardly  take  it  in.     It  looks  too  improbable." 

"  Name  one  thing  that  looks  to  you  unreasonable." 

"  A  dozen,  if  you  desire  so  many.  In  the  first  place,  do 
you  think  that  a  South  Carolinian  would  believe  that  a 
party  of  slaves  dared  to  play  such  tricks  at  the  present 
time  ?  They  are  too  faithful  for  that ;  but  even  if  they 
desired  to  aid  the  Yanks,  they  have  no  chance ;  for  a  con- 
stant watch  is  kept  on  their  movements.  They  cannot 
stir  unless  it  is  known  to  the  patrol." 

"  Haven't  you  missed  some  of  your  prominent  men 
within  a  month  or  two  ?  " 

"  Two  or  three  of  them  have  stepped  out ;  but  we  can 
guess  where  they  are,  without  thinking  that  they  have 
been  kidnapped  in  such  a  way  as  you  suggest." 

"  It  is  no  use,"  whispered  Reefpoint.  "  We  can't  pull 
the  wool  over  their  eyes.  Save  yourself,  and  let  us  meet 
the  fate  they  intend  for  us." 

44  Never,"  I  replied.  "  We  will  all  go  clear,  or  we  will 
all  hang  together.  Even  to  the  last,  stick  to  it  that  you 
are  confeds.  We  must  pull  through." 

"  I  think,"  remarked  the  captain,  "  that  you  had  better 
get  ready  for  a  swing  from  the  limb  of  some  tree.  You 
have  played  your  trump  card,  and  it  isn't  large  enough. 
Now  we'll  play  ours,  and  see  if  we  can't  euchre  you." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  you  can,"  I  said ;  "  for  you 
hold  the  right  and  left  bowers  ;  but  if  you  proceed  to  ex- 
tremities, you  will  find  that  even  the  winner  of  the  game 
had  better  have  lost." 

"  Look  'e  here,"  cried  the  captain  in  a  confident  tone; 
"  if  you  are  innocent,  as  you  try  to  make  out,  what  made 
your  guide,  the  nigger,  cut  and  run  for  it?  " 

"  I  haven't  the  slightest  idea." 

44  Another  question.  Why  was  you  heading  towards 
aalt  water,  across  the  country,  instead  of  muking  fur  the 
city  ?  " 


RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE.  -        305 

"  Haven't  I  told  you  that  the  negro  said  he  knew  of  a 
short  cut,  that  would  save  us  several  miles  ?  " 

"  Gammon  I  "  roared  the  men,  laughing  at  the  absurdity 
of  the  story. 

"  Our  South  Carolina  niggers,"  said  the  captain,  "  are 
not  up  to  such  games  as  that.  They  have  too  much  re- 
spect for  a  white  man  to  deceive  one." 

"  I  think  you  are  mistaken,  and  believe  that  the  negro 
guide  meant  to  lead  us  astray ;  but  of  our  honesty  you 
can  be  t  assured  by  returning  to  the  house  where  I  was 
confined,  or  else  taking  us  to  Charleston." 

"  It  would  be  a  waste  of  time.  We  have  proof  enough 
of  your  guilt,  and  so  don't  care  to  add  to  it." 

With  this  remark,  the  captain  glanced  in  the  direction 
of  the  stout  limb  of  a  palmetto  tree  that  grew  near  by. 

Some  of  his  men  took  the  hint ;  and  with  a  yell  that 
sounded  fiendish  and  cruel,  they  stacked  their  arms,  and 
produced  three  ropes,  which  were  made  of  Manila  hemp, 
were  small  and  new,  and  which  looked  as  though  they 
were  kept  on  hand  for  special  cases,  just  like  the  one 
now  presented. 

Up  the  tree  went  one  of  the  soldiers,  reaching  the  stout 
limb  with  the  agility  of  an  ape  ;  and  there  the  fellow  sat, 
and  waited  for  his  comrades  to  throw  the  ends  of  the  ropes 
up  to  him,  so  he  could  make  them  secure. 

Once  more  little  Reefpoint  appealed  to  me,  in  the  hope 
that  I  would  save  my  life  at  the  expense  of  his  own. 

While  we  were  looking  at  the  ropes,  and  wondering 
what  we  should  do  next  (for  I  had  not  given  up  all  hope), 
some  of  the  more  adventurous  of  the  soldiers,  recollecting 
that  we  had  not  been  searched,  thrust  their  hands  in  our 
pockets,  and  went  all  over  us  in  so  expeditious  a  manner 
as  to  prove  that  they  were  accustomed  to  such  business. 
But  they  found  nothing  that  was  calculated  tc  establish 
either  our  innocence  or  guilt. 


306  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

Wliile  this  was  going  on,  I  asked  the  captain  to  give 
me  a  moment's  private  conversation.  After  a  minute's 
hesitation,  he  complied;  and  I  had  an  opportunity  to 
speak  to  him  without  being  overheard. 

"  Captain,"  I  asked,  "  do  you  really  mean  to  hang  us  ?  " 

"  Such  is  my  present  intention,"  the  officer  replied, 
once  more  lighting  a  cigar,  and  having  the  politeness  to 
offer  me  one. 

As  it  seemed  to  be  the  last  time  that  I  should  have  an 
opportunity  to  taste  tobacco,  I  accepted  the  present,  and 
lighted  the  cigar  from  the  captain's  smoking  weed. 

"  You  had  better  think  twice  of  the  matter,"  I  re- 
marked. "  You  will  be  sorry  if  you  carry  out  your  inten- 
tions." 

"  Perhaps  I  shall.  If  I  am,  I'll  let  you  know  when  we 
meet  in  the  next  world." 

"  There's  not  the  slightest  prospect  of  that,"  I  replied. 

"Why  not?" 

"  Because,  while  you  will  go  to  a  hot  place,  I  shall  go 
to  a  more  agreeable  abode." 

"  Then  I'll  send  word  ;  although  I'm  not  sure  but  our 
positions  may  be  reversed." 

The  captain  was  a  good-natured  man,  and  did  not  take 
offence.  From  this  I  had  great  hope.  I  thought  I  might 
joke  him  into  a  reprieve  until  I  could  get  word  to  my 
friends  in  Charleston.  But  I  soon  saw  that  the  scamp 
could  laugh  and  smile,  and  still  be  willing  to  inflict  capital 
punishment  upon  parties  whom  he  supposed  unfriendly  to 
the  Confederacy. 

I  was  just  about  to  make  a  last  tender,  to  offer  a  large 
sum  for  my  life  and  the  lives  of  the  other  two,  when 
we  heard  the  sound  of  horses'  feet ;  and  then  down  the 
road  came  two  men,  mounted  on  stout  cobs. 

"  Hollo  I  whom  have  we  here  ?  "  muttered  the  captain. 
"  Perhaps  some  one  whom  you  know.  If  so,  call  him  as 
a  witness." 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  307 

The  horsemen  approached  with  much  confidence,  until 
they  were  near  enough  to  show  me  the  venerable  face  of 
Colonel  Rhett  and  the  dark  countenance  of  John  the 
mulatto  —  two  men  whom  I  could  not  expect  would  act 
a  friendly  part. 

"  Here  are  two  persons,"  I  said,  addressing  the  captain, 
"  who  will  prove  me  a  true  friend  to  the  Confederacy,  pro- 
vided they  speak  the  truth." 

"  What  makes  you  think  they  won't  do  the  right  thing 
by  you  ?  "  asked  the  captain. 

"  Because  both  of  them  were  concerned  in  my  imprison- 
ment. They  belong  to  the  gang  of  negroes  I  spoke  to 
you  about." 

The  soldier  laughed  in  a  careless,  incredulous  sort  of 
manner,  as  though  he  was  not  to  be  deceived  by  such 
shams. 

"  You  are  a  victim  to  persecution,"  the  captain  said. 
"  I  have  met  just  such  people  before." 

"  So  much  the  worse  for  me.  But  call  them,  and  hear 
what  they  say." 

"  Bring  those  men  here,"  the  captain  ordered. 

His  soldiers  had  surrounded  the  new  arrivals,  and  were 
asking  a  few  questions.  These  were  important  in  some 
respects  ;  for  all  the  interrogations  commenced  with  whis- 
key, and  ended  with  tobacco  —  two  articles  which  the 
confederate  defenders  desired  above  all  things. 

As  Colonel  Rhett  seldom  travelled  far  from  home  with- 
out whiskey  and  tobacco,  he  was  in  a  measure  enabled  to 
supply  a  small  stock  of  each  to  the  men  ;  which  was  re- 
ceived with  growls  that  it  was  not  more,  and  disposed  of 
in  a  few  swallows  and  some  twenty  chews. 

The  valiant  Virginian  and  the  mulatto  had  consulted 

together  for  a  moment,   while  the  whiskey  and  tobacco 

were   being  shared;    but   that  .moment   was   enough   to 

enable  them  to  settle  on  their  plans ;    for   one  or   two 

21 


308  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

adroit  questions  to  the  soldiers  had  revealed  the  fact  that 
we  were  prisoners,  captured  as  spies,  and  about  to  be  3xe- 
cuted  as  such. 

As  bold  as  impudence  could  make  them,  the  cobnel 
and  John  presented  themselves  to  the  commander  of  the 
company. 

"  Who  are  you?  ''  the  latter  asked. 

'•  I  am  Colonel  Rhett,  of  Virginia,'*  the  white-headed 
old  wretch  answered.  "  I  perceive  that  I  am  speaking  to 
a  gentleman  of  the  rank  of  captain.  I  am  happy  to  meet 
you,  sir.  I  was  at  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  sir ;  and  I  am 
proud  to  say  that  I  did  my  whole  duty  on  that  glorious 
day.  Gods  !  how  we  made  the  Yankees  take  to  their 
heels  !  I  laughed  until  I  cried  at  the  panic." 

"I  should  like  to  have  been  there,"  the  captain  re- 
marked. "  But  I  was  at  Sumter." 

"  Another  great  triumph  for  our  arms,  sir.  We  struck 
for  liberty  the  day  the  Yankee  flag  was  lowered  from  that 
fort.  I  should  have  been  pleased,  sir,  to  have  lent  my  aid 
on  that  occasion.  But  it  was  impossible.  Virginia  did 
not  lead  this  time,  but  left  it  to  a  more  noble  state,  South 
Carolina,  to  reap  all  the  laurels." 

"  Who  is  your  companion  ?  "  asked  the  captain,  pointing 
to  John,  and  seemingly  anxious  to  cut  short  such  a  torrent 
of  compliments. 

"  A  slave  belonging  to  a  Georgia  lady,  a  Mrs.  Gowen." 

"  The  wife  of  a  cotton  agent  ?  ' ' 

"  The  same." 

k' I  am  acquainted  with  her  and  her  husband;  but  I 
thought  they  both  were  at  Nassau." 

"Her  husband  is,  but  the  lady  is  in -Charleston.  She 
arrived  only  a  few  days  since  in  a  blockade-runner.  I 
have  the  honor  to  rank  as  one  of  her  friends." 

The  colonel  raised  his  hat,  as  though  he  could  nevei 
sufficiently  honor  the  lady  for  allowing  him  such  claims. 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  309 

"  If  Mrs.  Go  wen  has  a  particle  of  friendship  for  you,  it 
is  a  sufficient  guarantee  of  your  honesty  and  respectability," 
the  captain  remarked.  "  I  know  her  peculiar  fastidious- 
ness, and  her  zeal  for  the  cause." 

The  colonel  rubbed  his  hands,  and  bowed,  while  the 
soldier  was  speaking. 

"  The  slave,  having  nothing  to  do,  is  permitted  to  act 
as  my  groom,"  Colonel  Rhett  added,  in  explanation  of 
John's  presence.  "  Mrs.  Gowen  loans  him  to  me  to  ride 
out  in  my  company,  on  account  of  my  health  being  so 
poor." 

"  This  person,"  said  the  captain,  pointing  to  me,  "  inti- 
mated that  you  can  prove  him  loyal  to  the  South.  Can 
you  do  so  ?  " 

"O  de  Lord!  just  t'iuk  ob  dat,  massa  colonel  I  "  cried 
the  mulatto  John,  suddenly  assuming  the  tone  and  man- 
ner of  a  happy  but  rather  ignorant  negro  ;  and  then  the 
fellow  roared  with  laughter. 

"Silence,  John,"  thundered  the  colonel,  with  all  the 
fierceness  that  so  well  becomes  a  military  man.  "  How 
dare  you,  John  ?  " 

"  O  de  Lord  I  but  I  couldn't  help  it,  massa  colonel, 
when  I  t'ink  ob  dat  man  sayin'  dat  he  is  ob  de  South." 

"  Well,  well,"  remarked  the  colonel,  somewhat  mollified ; 
"  don't  be  too  forward,  even  if  Mrs.  Gowen  does  pet  you 
too  much.  Recollect  in  whose  presence  you  stand."  And 
the  Virginian  pointed  to  the  captain. 

"  Yes,  sah  ;  I'll  remember  'em  well." 

But  still  the  siave  giggled  and  grinned  as  though  he 
had  discovered  a  magnificent  joke. 

"  Do  you  know  this  person  ?  "  asked  the  captain,  point- 
ing to  me. 

The  colonel  took  another  look,  and  then  shook  his  old 
addted  head,  as  though  he  was  dodging  balls  at  Bull  Run. 

'*T) !  don't  massa  colonel  know  'em  well !  dat  am  a 
fact."  ejaculated  the  slave. 


810  RUNNING   THE  BLOCKADE. 

And  he  once  more  chuckled  in  a  quiet  manner. 

"John,"  mildly  remarked  the  colonel,  "  won't  you  be 
quiet  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sah ;  I'm  dumb  as  a  turtle,  sure." 

"  As  John  says,"  continued  the  colonel,  in  a  benevolent 
tone,  "  I  do  know  the  man,  and  it  pains  me  to  add  that  I 
don't  know  much  good  of  him.  A  more  precious  rascal 
does  not  exist  on  the  face  of  the  earth." 

"  Dat's  so,"  muttered  John,  as  though  to  clinch  the 
assertion. 

I  did  not  answer  them,  but  still  smoked  my  cigar, 
and  listened  to  the  comments  of  two  of  the  most  lying 
scoundrels  in  South  Carolina.  I  saw  that  they  were  de- 
termined to  make  an  end  of  me,  if  such  a  thing  Avas  pos- 
sible ;  and  all  that  I  had  to  hope  for  was,  that  they  would 
contradict  themselves,  and  thus  give  me  a  chance. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  your  witnesses  at  the  present 
time  ?  "  asked  the  captain,  turning  to  me  with  a  peculiar 
smile. 

"  O,  I'm  not  in  the  least  surprised  at  what  they  say. 
you  know  that  I  told  you  I  was  uncertain  how  they  would 
testify." 

"  I'll  be  bound  the  fellow  invented  some  cock-and-bull 
story  respecting  us,"  the  colonel  remarked. 

"  No  ;  he  merely  said  that  both  of  you  could  help  him 
if  you  desired,  but  that  he  had  some  doubts  on  the  sub- 
ject." 

"  Is  that  all  ?  "  and  the  colonel's  face  looked  the  relief 
he  felt. 

"  Wai,  dat  is  a  wonder,  sure,"  John  had  the  pleasure 
to  utter. 

"  But  he  told  me  some  other  things  which  rather  sur- 
prised me,"  the  captain  said  ;  and  then  related  my  yarn 
as  to  how  I  was  trapped  by  the  negroes,  and  k^t  a 
prisoner. 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  311 

"  I  hope,  for  the  honor  of  your  profession,  that  you  will 
not  believe  such  an  improbable  story,"  Colonel  Rhett 
cried,  in  a  scornful  tone. 

"  De  niggers  ob  South  Caiiina  is  faithful  to  de  pal- 
metto tree.  Dey  be  faithful  to  de  last,"  the  mulatto  said, 
in  a  confident  manner.  "  I  knows  dey  ia  " 

"  We  are  all  glad  to  hear  it,  John,"  the  colonel  re- 
marked in  a  tone  that  he  meant  to  be  patronizing.  "  We 
have  done  enough  for  the  people  of  your  color  to  make 
them  fast  friends." 

"  Dat  you  has,  colonel,  and  we  is  grateful  for  it,  all 
ob  us." 

"  I  don't  see  but  that  I  must  hang  you  three  gentle- 
men, much  as  I  dislike  the  job,"  the  captain  said,  turning 
to  me  and  my  two  companions. 

"  On  what  charge  ?  "  asked  the  colonel  and  mulatto  in 
an  eager  tone. 

"  As  spies." 

Rhett  and  John  seemed  a  little  astonished,  and  the  ras- 
cals looked  at  each  other  as  though  they  could  hardly 
believe  their  ears. 

"  As  spies  ?  "  they  muttered. 

"  Yes ;  Yankee  spies." 

"  If  that's  what  they  are,  jerk  'em  up.  I  reckon  they 
deserve  it.  I  don't  have  any  sympathy  for  a  man  who 
serves  his  country  in  that  way." 

"  Hang  'em,  sah,  as  quick  as  you  can,"  the  mulatto 
cried,  taking  his  cue  from  the  colonel. 

"  But  I  want  a  little  more  proof,"  the  soldier  main- 
tained. 

"  Proof,  sir  !  you  have  ample  proof,"  Colonel  Rhett 
cried  in  an  eager  tone. 

"I  don't  see  it  just  yet;"  and  the  captain,  who  was 
rather  a  good-natured,  humane  fellow,  looked  his  per- 
plexity. 


812  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  You  want  more  proof  —  do  you  ?  "  demanded  the  colo- 
nel in  an  eager  tone.  "  I  didn't  intend  to  say  one  word 
about  it,  but  will  on  account  of  the  position  in  which  you 
are  placed.  It  is  painful  to  my  feelings  to  thus  speak,  but 
justice  to  my  country  prompts  me.  That  man  "  —  and  the 
colonel  pointed  his  long,  bony  finger  at  me  —  "I  met  at 
Nassau.  He  lived  for  some  weeks  in  the  same  hotel  with 
myself  and  daughter.  We  went  to  Nassau  in  the  same 
steamer.  On  the  sea  or  on  the  shore  I  never  knew  him 
to  be  regarded  in  any  other  light  than  that  of  a  Vandal 
rascally  Yankee  spy.  As  such,  he  was  shunned  and 
despised." 

"  I  knows  dat,"  John  said,  with  a  grave  shake  of  his 
head ;  "  'cos  one  day,  master,  he  pint  to  dis  feller,  and 
say,  '  John,  dat  one  of  dem  cheap  white  trash  dat  lib 
Norf.  He  spyin'  round  here  in  hope  of  pickin'  up  some 
news ;  but  de  Southern  peoples  all  know  him,  and  I  tink 
he  no  get  much  here.' ' 

"  And  the  other  two  —  do  you  know  aught  of  them  ?  " 
the  captain  asked,  pointing  to  Harry  and  the  petty  officer 
Barnes. 

The  colonel  hastened  to  speak.  He  probably  knew  that 
Mr.  Reefpoint  and  Barnes  were  on  a  mission  regarding 
me,  so  considered  that  he  was  in  duty  bound  to  save  them 
if  such  a  thing  were  possible.  For  this  purpose  he  took  a 
long  and  careful  look  at  both  faces,  and  then  rendered  his 
judgment  to  the  captain. 

"  These  young  men  I've  seen  in  Alderny  &  Co.'s  store, 
at  Nassau,  and  they  were  pointed  out  to  me  as  blockade- 
runners,  and  successful  ones  at  that.  I'll  stake  my  life 
that  they  are  all  right." 

"Sergeant,  remove  them,  and  keep  them  in  custody 
for  the  present,"  commanded  the  captain ;  and  off  Harry 
and  Barnes  were  marched,  not  being  allowed  to  exchange 
a  word  with  me. 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  313 

"  You  have  done  one  good  thing  in  saving  the  lives  of 
those  men,"  I  said,  addressing  the  colonel.  "Now  tell 
the  truth  about  myself,  and  you  will  fare  better  for  it." 

"  I  have  told  the  truth,  young  man,"  the  colonel  re- 
marked in  a  tone  of  great  severity.  "  I  wish  that  you 
were  as  Christian-like  and  sincere  as  myself." 

"  I  don't  see  but  that  I  must  hang  you,"  the  captain 
cried.  "  It's  hard,  I  know  ;  but  still  I  must  do  it.  You 
won't  mind  it  after  all  is  over.  In  fact,  I  rather  think 
you  will  like  it." 

"  You're  a  pretty  good  fellow,  even  if  you  do  want  to 
hang  me,"  I  said.  "  Now  just  take  my  advice,  and  carry 
me  to  Charleston,  and  you'll  see  how'  I'll  turn  the  tables 
on  these  fellows,  and  what  a  laugh  we'll  have  at  their 
expense." 

The  captain  shook  his  head. 

"  I  wish  I  could,  but  my  orders  are  imperative." 

I  had  no  time  to  utter  more,  for  some  of  the  soldiers 
approached  me,  in  obedience  to  a  signal,  and  laid  their 
hands  on  my  shoulder. 

"  Come,"  they  said  ;  "  the  rope  is  ready,  and  «,waits 
you." 

"  Is  there  no  hope  ?  "  I  asked,  and  once  more  turned  to 
the  captain ;  but  the  soldiers  had  faced  to  the  right,  so 
that  the  captain  could  not  hear  my  appeal. 

I  was  about  to  walk  towards  the  tree  where  the  ropes 
were  suspended,  when  I  caught  the  sound  of  horses'  hoofs 
on  *he  road  that  led  to  Charleston. 

The  soldiers  who  were  conducting  me  halted  for  a 
moment  on  hearing  the  noise,  and  receiving  no  sign  from 
their  captain,  remained  in  a  stationary  position. 

"  On  with  him  !  "  cried  the  colonel,  fearful  that  some- 
thing would  happen  so  that  his  vengeance  could  not  be 
satisfied.  "  To  the  tree  !  to  the  rope  !  " 

"  We  take  orders  only  from  our  captain,"  a  corporal 
replied. 


314  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

By  this  time,  some  twenty-five  horsemen  appeared  in 
sight,  clad  in  the  gray  uniforms  of  the  Confederacy.  But 
there  was  one  man  who  rode  a  powerful  animal,  and  who 
led  the  advance,  plying  whip  and  spur ;  and  he,  I  noticed, 
was  not  in  uniform,  nor  did  he  wear  any  of  the  emblems 
of  military  life.  A  slouched  hat  concealed  his  face,  and 
there  was  no  way  by  which  I  could  distinguish  it ;  yet  my 
hopes  arose  when  I  thought  that  it  might  be  the  Ken- 
tuckian  leading  a  party  of  soldiers  to  the  house  in  the  hope 
of  effecting  my  release. 

"  Whom  have  we  here  ?  "  muttered  the  captain.  "  They 
ride  as  though  blooded  stock  was  abundant,  and  oats 
cheap,  in  the  Southern  Confederacy." 

"  Can't  you  string  him  up  before  they  reach  here  ?  " 

The  colonel  betrayed  such  intense  eagerness  in  this 
inquiry,  that  the  captain  replied,  — 

"  Do  you  want  the  show  all  to  yourself,  that  you  are  in 
such  a  hurry  ?  If  we  must  hang,  let  the  others  have  a 
chance." 

"  Whoop  !  "  shouted  the  man  who  rode  in  advance  of 
the  cavalcade.  "  Wake,  snakes,  and  give  'ern  ginger  !  " 

Then  off  went  his  hat ;  and  to  my  joy,  I  saw  the  rough, 
dark,  stern  face  of  Bowmount,  for  it  was  now  daylight. 

"  This  is  very  unmilitary,"  muttered  the  captain ;  "  but 
what  can  you  expect  from  the  cavalry  as  a  body  where 
every  private  owns  the  horse  that  he  rides  ?  Of  course  all 
discipline  is  lost.  The  infantry  is  the  arm  for  service, 
after  all  the  talk." 

While  the  captain  was  thus  consoling  himself,  the  Ken- 
tuckian  was  uttering  any  number  of  Indian  war-whoops  ; 
but  whether  from  the  effects  of  joy  or  whiskey,  I  could 
not  tell.  However,  one  thing  I  noticed  —  that  my  two 
particular  friends,  Colonel  Rhett  and  John,  manifest- 
ed symptoms  of  uneasiness  at  the  approach  of  the  Ken- 
tuckian ;  and  by  the  manner  in  which  they  glanced  over 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  315 

their  shoulders,  I  judged  that  they  wanted  to  retreat  be- 
fore all  communications  were  cut  off. 

"  Don't  let  those  fellows  escape,"  I  said  to  the  captain, 
the  instant  I  noticed  they  were  disposed  to  edge  away. 
"  We  will  now  prove  who  is  right,  and  who  is  wrong." 

"Sergeant,"  said  the  captain,  "keep  your  eye  on  those 
men,  and  don't  let  them  leave  the  grounds  until  I  order 
their  release.  Colonel,"  he  continued,  addressing  the 
Virginian,  "  I  am  astonished  that  you  should  wish  to  take 
up  your  line  of  march  just  at  this  time,  when  proof  of 
your  assertions  is  so  near  at  hand.  Now  we  can  have  a 
full  and  fair  hearing ;  for  I  see  that  General  Rampage  is 
at  the  head  of  the  cavalry.  He  isn't  a  man  to  be  tri- 
fled with,  and  can  sift  truth  from  falsehood,  as  well  as  the 
smartest  city  judge." 

I  saw  a  look  of  terror  and  dismay  on  the  faces  of  Colo- 
nel Rhett  and  the  mulatto.  Then  the  cavalry  checked 
their  horses,  and  the  men  dismounted. 

The  Kentuckian  threw  his  reins  to  a  corporal  as  he 
touched  the  ground,  and  then  came  running  towards  me, 
his  arms  widely  extended,  and  his  face  expressing  joy  and 
several  large  doses  of  whiskey. 

"  Shucks !  man  alive,  what  are  you  doing  here  ? " 
roared  the  Kentuckian,  throwing  his  stout,  muscular  arms 
around  me,  and  hugging  me  like  a  gorilla.  "Hang  it! 
why  ain't  you  in  the  house,  in  the  cell,  all  locked  up,  keep- 
in'  toads  and  other  varmints  company,  not  to  speak  of 
the  groaning  woman,  what  is  never  easy  unless  at  it  hard  ? 
Speak — can't  you?  How  did  you  get  out?  Hang  me 
ef  I  ain't  glad  to  see  you,  and  no  mistake  !  " 

It  was  impossible  to  answer  all  these  questions,  much 
as  Bowmount  would  have  liked  me  to  do  so.  I  only 
hugged  him  in  return,  and  swore  that  I  was  never  so  glad 
to  see  a  man  in  all  my  life. 

But,  while  I  was  thus  assuring  my  friend  of  my  affec- 


316  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 

tion  and  joy,  the  Kentuckian's  eyes  were  at  work,  and 
fell  on  the  military  captain.  A  smile  passed  over  Bow- 
mount's  face  as  he  advanced  towards  the  soldier  with  out- 
stretched hand. 

"  Shucks,  captain,"  cried  the  Kentuckian,  "  but  I'm 
jolly  glad  to  see  you,  dog  on  me  if  I  ain't,  and  no  mistake. 
I  ain't  seen  yer  since  we  »was  in  Tennessee  together,  a 
cuttin'  up  the  Yanks'  supplies." 

The  two  shook  hands  in  the  heartiest  manner,  as  though 
they  were  old  comrades,  as  indeed  they  were ;  for  when 
Bowmount  commanded  a  regiment  of  wild  Kentuckians, 
all  mounted  on  blood  horses  owned  by  their  riders,  the 
captain  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  same  body  of  men,  and 
had  received  some  favors  at  the  hands  of  the  colonel,  es- 
tablishing a  lasting  friendship  between  the  two. 

Just  at  this  moment  Bowmount's  eyes  fell  upon  Colo- 
nel Rhett  and  the  slave. 

"  Hollo  !  "  he  said,  with  no  friendly  glare  ;  "  how  does 
it  happen  that  you  are  here  ?  Shucks  I  I  was  in  hopes 
that  I  should  never  see  your  two  faces  again.  Dog  on  me 
if  I  ain't  tired  of  'em. 

"  Do  you  know  the  colonel  and  the  slave  ?  "  asked  the 
captain,  who  was  so  ambitious  to  hang  me  a  moment 
before. 

"  Well,  I  reckon  I  do  know  'em." 

"  Then  your  arrival  is  most  opportune,  for  you  can  tell 
me  which  party  is  worthy  of  the  most  confidence." 

"  Why,  haven't  you  found  out  yet  ?  " 

"No." 

"  Well,  dog  on  me  if  that  ain't  good,"  roared  the  Ken- 
tuckian. "  Why,  a  man  what  has  been  two  minutes  in 
the  company  of  'em  couldn't  help  noting  who  told  the 
truth,  and  who  told  lies." 

"  That  there  has  been  lying  I  am  ready  to  admit,"  the 
captain  remarked ;  "  but  I  want  to  know  who  tells  the 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  817 

lies.  I  have  arrested  your  friend  as  a  spy ;  and,  by 
George,  I  was  about  to  hang  him  as  a  spy  when  you 
came  up." 

"  Hang  him  !  Spy  !  "  roared  the  Kentuckian.  "  Tf  you 
had,  there'd  been  murder  committed  in  this  state  afore 
long,  now  I'tell  you." 

"  There  is  no  occasion  for  excitement  on  this  sub- 
ject," the  captain  remarked  in  a  quiet  tone,  as  though 
he  knew  the  Kentuckian's  temper  and  peculiarities. 
"  We'll  talk  it  over  in  a  quiet  manner,  so  that  justice 
shall  be  done." 

"  That's  all  we  want.  Rampage,  you'll  see  justice  done 
here  won't  you?  " 

"  That's  what  I  came  for,"  was  the  general's  answer. 

"  Now,"  continued  the  captain,  pointing  to  me,  "  tell 
us  who  that  person  is." 

"  Why,  he  commanded  my  blockade-runner,  the  Belle. 
Shucks  !  but  you  should  have  seen  him  rush  her  past  the 
fleet,  and  talk  right  pert  with  the  admiral,  just  as  cool  as 
a  cobbler  well  supplied  with  ice." 

"  And  you  can  vouch  for  his  loyalty  to  the  South  ?  " 

"  Shucks  !  a  man  what  does  that  don't  need  no  vouch- 
ing for  —  does  he,  Rampage  ?  " 

The  general  thought  that  it  was  good  evidence  of  pa- 
triotism. 

"  You  have  never  seen  anything  to  make  you  believe 
he's  a  Yankee  spy  ?  "  continued  the  captain. 

"  Known  him  for  months,  and  never  heard  such  a 
thing,"  was  the  prompt  answer. 

"  So  far,  so  good,"  nodded  the  captain.  "  Now,  do  you 
know  of  his  being  trapped  by  a  party  of  negroes  ?  " 

"  I  reckon.  Shucks  !  dog  on  me  !  but  wan't  I  took 
the  same  way,  and  put  in  a  pen  not  fit  for  a  hog  ?  " 

' '  This  grows  interesting, ' '  remarked  the  cantain.  ' '  Who 
trapped  you  ?  Can  you  point  out  the  parties  .' 


818  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  Well,  I  reckon.  Do  you  see  that  light-colored  niggers 
what  is  getting  a  little  shaky  in  the  kneepans  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  Well,  he's  one  of  'em." 

"  Do  you  mean  it  ?  Mrs.  Gowen's  slave  engaged  in 
such  business  as  kidnapping  ?  " 

"  Sartin.     He's  a  rascal." 

"  A  what  ?  " 

"Rascal.     I  reckon  I  know  him  by  this  time." 

"  But  how  does  it  happen  that  you  escaped  from  the 
slaves'  clutches  ?  " 

"  Well,  you  know  jails  never  held  me  a  great  while  ; 
and  when  I  found  myself  in  a  pen,  jist  set  to  work  to 
git  out.  I  did  escape,  but  I  couldn't  take  my  friend  with 
me  ;  but  I  promised  to  return  for  him  as  soon  as  I  could, 
and  here  I  am,  with  half  a  company  of  dragoons  to  back 
me." 

"  You  see,  captain,  that  my  story  holds  good,"  I  re- 
marked. 

"  I  see  it  does,  and  feel  ashamed  that  I  did  not  rely 
upon  your  word.  What  interest  could  those  men  have  in 
telling  such  a  falsehood  ?  " 

"  Ask  them,  and  see." 

"  Colonel  Rhett,"  the  captain  remarked,  "you  and  the 
slave  are  in  a  bad  position.  You  have  made  false  state- 
ments. Can  you  explain  matters  ?  You  have  a  chance  to 
do  so." 

The  Virginian  did  not  want  for  a  lie.  He  stepped  for- 
ward, as  bold  apparently  as  ever,  and  commenced  his  de- 
fence. 

"  There's  some  mistake  here,"  he  said,  "  and  I'm  glad 
it's  rectified  in  time  to  prevent  bad  consequences.  We 
certainly  were  led  to  believe  that  Captain  Barnwell  was  a 
notorious  Yankee  spy.  Acting  under  that,  impression, 
John  concluded  that  it  would  be  a  good  thing  to  cut  short 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  ?-»9 

his  career.  So  he  imprisoned  him,  and  attempted  to  obtain 
all  his  secrets,  under  the  impression  that  he  could  seJ 
them  to  the  Confederacy, — not  for  money,  but  renowo, 
—  and  to  show  that  the  slaves  of  the  South  are  for  the 
South.  If  he  has  made  a  mistake,  I  suppose  that  he  is 
sorry  for  it." 

The  treacherous  old  scamp  was  attempting  to  screen 
himself  at  the  expense  of  the  slave.  He  did  not  care 
what  punishment  was  inflicted  upon  John,  if  his  own 
neck  escaped. 

The  Kentuckian  had  listened  to  the  whole  yarn  with 
but  few  expressions  of  impatience  ;  but  I  saw  by  his  eyes 
.that  he  was  getting  enraged  very  fast,  and  when  he 
roared  out  an  oath  and  several  ejaculations,  I  was  not 
surprised. 

"  You  miserable  specimen  of  a  Bull  Runner !  "  he  yelled 
to  the  terrified  colonel ;  "  you  remnant  of  the  first  fami- 
lies of  Virginia !  you  cringing  dog,  you  lying  colonel, 
what  do  you  mean  by  tellin'  sich  yarns  as  that  for,  when 
you  know  that  I  was  took  in  the  same  way  that  Barn- 
well  was,  and  locked  up  next  to  him,  like  a  sojer  arter  a 
drunk  ?  Answer  me  that,  you  miserable  specimen  of  an- 
other age.  How  dare  you  lie  so  in  the  presence  of  a  gen- 
tleman like  myself?  " 

The  unfortunate  colonek  seemed  to  have  forgotten  that 
the  Kentuckian  had  been  treated  the  same  way  as  myself ; 
so,  for  a  moment  he  seemed  overwhelmed  at  the  evidence 
cf  his  rascality  ;  but  he  rallied,  and  once  more  attempt- 
ed to  throw  the  blame  upon  the  slave,  who  as  yet  had  not 
uttered  a  word  in  his  own  defence. 

"  As  for  Mr.  Bowmount's  detention,  I  know  nothing 
about  it.  If  he  was  trapped,  it  was  done  by  John  for 
some  purpose  that  was  unknown  to  me.  I  am  sorry  tu;  * 
he  should  have  been  put  to  such  inconvenience,  and  I  iwj 
astonished  that  John  should  have  interfered  in  the  move- 


320  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

merits  of  so  valiant  a  defender  of  the  South.  .bad  I 
known  that  Mr.  Bowmount  was  a  prisoner,  no  one  -would 
have  aided  him  quicker  than  myself." 

The  mulatto  stood  and  heard  all  this,  sullen,  and  with 
his  eyes  cast  to  the  ground.  The  white  man,  with  his 
oily  tongue,  smooth  words,  his  plausible  stories,  was  cast- 
ing all  the  blame  upon  the  slave,  and,  to  all  appearances, 
was  believed  as  implicitly  as  though  in  a  court  of  justice, 
and  sworn  upon  a  Bible. 

But  the  Kentuckian,  while  he  listened  with  patience, 
did  not  credit  all  that  was  said ;  and  when  the  Virginian 
had  ceased  speaking,  he  sprang  forward,  caught  Rhett  by 
his  throat,  and  then  slapped  his  face  several  times  witlj 
his  open  palm,  while,  at  the  same  time,  he  shook  the  old 
fellow  until  his  teeth  chattered  in  his  head,  and  his  hair 
promised  to  take  its  departure  from  the  scalp,  and  fly 
away  in  the  direction  of  Fort  Sumter. 

"  You  blamed  old  scoundrel !  "  shouted  the  irate  Ken- 
tuckian, "  don't  I  know  you,  and  your  tricks  and  excuses? 
Didn't  you  try  to  have  me  captured  by  the  blockading 
fleet  ?  Didn't  you  swing  lanterns,  and  be  hanged  to  you  ? 
You're  a  sweet  one.  Shucks  !  I'm  almost  minded  to  break 
your  neck." 

"  Blast  him,"  said  General  Rampage.  "  If  he  has  con- 
ducted in  the  manner  you  state,  why  not  hang  him  as  an 
enemy  of  the  South?  " 

"That's  it.  Up  with  him  to  the  very  tree  that  thev 
intended  to  devote  to  Barn  well.  The  rope  is  all  ready. 
You  shall  swing  for  it,  you  false-hearted,  lying  villain." 

The  gallant  colonel  showed  more  spirit  than  I  had  an- 
ticipated ;  for  he  did  not  commence  begging  for  mercy, 
but  appeared  to  meditate  upon  the  difficulties  of  his  posi- 
tion, as  though  he  were  asking  himself  if  all  hope  ana 
expedients  were  gone.  Once  or  twice  he  glanced  towards 
the  mulatto  ;  but  the  latter  did  not  return  the  look,  TT 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  321 

appear  in  the  best  of  spirits.  No  doubt  he  was  thinking 
of  the  baseness  of  the  colonel,  and  wondered  why  the 
man  had  not  possessed  a  little  more  honor,  even  if  it  had 
to  be  shown  at  the  expense  of  a  slave. 

At  last  the  Bull  Runner  turned  to  me,  as  though  he' 
knew  I  was  the  most  tender-hearted  man  in  the  crowd, 
and  would  be  more  likely  to  befriend  him  than  any  other 
man  present. 

"Captain,"  he  said,  with  an  assumption  of  frankness 
that  was  quite  refreshing  after  his  late  conduct,  "  if  I  have 
seemed  harsh,  you  must  pardon  me,  for  I  have  only  the 
good  of  my  country  at  heart.  Now  that  my  eyes  are 
open  —  " 

"  By  the  Lord  Harry!  if  he  ain't  as  cool  as  the  Mam- 
moth Cave  of  Old  Kaintuck,"  muttered  Bowmount. 
"  Hang  me,  what  fs  the  fellow  made  of  —  ice  or  stone  ?  " 

For  the  first  time,  John  cast  a  look  of  scorn  at  his  com- 
panion. He  appeared  to  feel  that  the  colonel  was  making 
desperate  efforts  to  save  his  own  life  at  the  expense  of 
somebody's  else,  and  he  thought  it  mean  to  thus  shirk  the 
responsibility. 

"  Will  yon,  gentlemen,  hear  me  for  a  moment  ?  "  asked 
John,  after  he  looked  his  scorn  at  the  colonel. 

"  Say  what  you  has  to  say,  and  be  done  with  it  in  quick 
time,"  the  Kentuckian  remarked.  "  We  can't  wait  all 
day,  when  we  know  breakfast  is  ready." 

"  I  have  but  few  words  to  utter,  and  those  shall  be 
true,"  John  remarked.  "  I  was  engaged  in  trapping 
these  two  white  men,  and  I  did  so  because  I  thought  that 
both  of  them  had  injured  me.  Other  people  helped  me, 
and  encouraged  me ;  but  you  may  tear  my  heart  out, 
black  as  it  is,  and  I  will  not  give  you  the  names  of  the 
parties,  or  blame  my  companion,  now  that  I  have  been  de- 
tected." 

"  Quite   right   and   proper,"    the  Virginian  muttered, 


822  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

with  an  approving  nod  of  his  head.  White  men  first,  the 
world  over." 

There  was  something  rather  noble  in  the  mulatto's 
character,  after  all.  Had  I  desired  his  instant  destruc- 
tion at  that  time,  it  would  only  have  been  necessary  for 
me  to  repeat  his  confession,  and  in  ten  minutes  he  would 
have  been  dangling  from  the  limb  of  a  tree.  But  I  was 
too  good  a  Unionist  to  wish  the  destruction  of  a  man  who 
was  likely  to  serve  the  North,  even  if  he  had  played  me 
some  tough  tricks  while  laboring  under  the  natural  im- 
pression that  I  was  a  very  determined  and  active  rebel. 

"  We  have  stumbled  on  some  kind  of  a  nest,"  General 
Rampage  said,  after  a  moment's  pause,  and  one  that 
seemed  terrible  to  all  present.  "  We  have  traitors  in  our 
midst,  and  must  make  short  work  with  them,  or  they  will 
buzz  around  our  ears  like  hornets.  Up  with  both  fellows 
at  once." 

"  A  just  decision.  Lay  hold  of  them,  men.  Be  lively, 
for  I'm  in  a  hurry  to  get  my  breakfast." 

The  soldiers,  in  obedience  to  the  order  of  the  captain, 
came  forward,  and  laid  their  hands  on  the  two  prisoners, 
and  commenced  dragging  them  towards  the  tree,  from 
which  dangled  the  ropes  that  were  intended  for  myself 
and  party. 

"  Look  here,"  cried  the  colonel,  with  a  slight  struggle  ; 
"  this  isn't  the  thing,  you  know.  I'm  a  defender  of  the 
South,  and  loyal  to  the  back-bone.  You  will  suffer  for 
this  outrage." 

"  Not  near  as  much  as  you  will,"  answered  the  Ken- 
tuckian.  "  Swing  lanterns,  will  you  ?  " 

As  to  John,  the  mulatto,  he  said  not  a  word,  and  re- 
quired but  little  urging.  He  seemed  to  think  that,  as  his 
companion  was  to  be  treated  the  same  as  himself,  it  was 
not  worth  while  to  make  a  fuss. 

I  did  not  think  that  the  two  men  deserved  death,  even 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  323 

if  they  had  treated  me  in  an  outrageous  manner,  while 
laboring  under  the  impression  that  I  was  a  zealous  rebel. 
I  wanted  to  save  them,  but  how  to  do  so  I  could  not 
imagine,  until  I  happened  to  glance  at  General  Rampage's 
face,  and  thought  that  there  I  saw  tokens  of  pity. 


CHAPTER    X. 

A  PLEA  FOB  MEECY — A  FLOGGING  FOB  HANGING.  — 
ON  THE  BELLE.  —  A  CABOUSE.  —  HAEBY  UNDERTAKES 
AN  EXPEDITION.  —  THE  CHABLESTON  IBON-CLADS.  — 
I  SEE  SOME  OLD  FBIENDS,  AND  AM  SUBPBISED  AT 
MEETING  THEM.  —  HABBY  AND  HIS  UNCLE.  —  VALUA- 
BLE PAPEBS,  AND  WHAT  I  DID  WITH  THEM.  —  SAM  IS 
PENITENT. 

"  GENEBAL,"  I  said,  approaching  him,  "  do  not  let 
them  hang  those  two  fellows.  They  have  hardly  earned 
such  a  fate." 

"  Can  you  forgive  their  treatment  of  you  ?  "  demanded 
the  general  in  a  cold  tone,  and  with  a  searching  look. 

"  No ;  I  can't  forgive  :  but  still  I  don't  demand  the  ex- 
treme penalty  for  such  conduct.  Let  them  be  tried  before 
a  regular  court,  which  will  decide  their  fate." 

"A  waste  of  time  and  money.  I'm  satisfied  that  the 
scamps  ai  e  spies.  Their  fate  is  death  ;  still  I  don't  know 
bit  that— " 

"  You  will  save  them  ;  but  you  must  be  quick  about  it, 
for  the  soldiers  are  putting  the  ropes  around  their  necks." 

"•  That  John  is  a  sprightly  nigger,  but  rather  pert," 
said  (lie  general,  in  a  musing  tone. 

"  Yes  ;  he  is  all  that,"  I  cried,  in  an  eager  tone. 
22 


324  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  He  might  be  made  to  do  right,  I  should  think,"  con- 
tinued the  general. 

"I  have  no  doubt  of  it.  But  you  see,  general,  that 
the  ropes  —  " 

"  Ah,  yes ;  I  see.  Bowmount,  hadn't  we  better  save 
that  nigger's  life  ?  He  represents  so  much  capital,  you 
know." 

"  He's  worth  two  thousand  dollars,  il  he's  worth  a  dol- 
lar," replied  the  matter-of-fact  Kentuckian. 

"  Then  don't  hang  him.  Give  hire  a  good  thrashing, 
and  put  him  in  jail.  The  court  will  order  him  to  be  sold, 
and  I  can  buy  him  for  a  trifle." 

"  What  do  you  say  to  that,  Barn  well  ?  "  asked  Bow- 
mount. 

"  I'm  willing.  I  think  that  it  is  the  best  course  you 
could  pursue.  But  you  must  treat  Colonel  Rhett  in  the 
same  manner." 

The  Kentuckian  would  not  agree  to  that  for  a  minute 
or  two,  but  consented  just  in  time  to  save  the  old  hum- 
bug's neck,  much  to  my  gratification,  and  his  own,  I  have 
no  doubt. 

"  Look  'e  here,  you  rascals,"  Bowmount  said  ;  "  you're 
indebted  to  Barnwell  for  your  lives,  and  to  me  for  a 
thrashin'.  Tie  'em  up,  men,  and  give  'em  a  dozen  apiece, 
and  then  lodge  'em  in  jail.  We'll  let  the  courts  take 
care  of  'em." 

"  You  will  carry  out  the  orders,"  the  general  said, 
turning  to  the  captain,  "  and  then  join  us  on  board  the 
Belle,  where  we  are  to  have  breakfast." 

"  But  what  shall  I  do  with  the  two  sailors  who  were 
captured  with  our  friend  ?  "  asked  the  captain. 

The  general  and  the  Kentuckian  did  not  know  what  he 
meant.  They  had  not  seen  Reefpoint  and  his  companion, 
who  were  to  convoy  me  to  the  United  States  sL.t 

"O,"  I  said,  in  a  careless  tone,  "  two  of  my  men  left 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

their  ship  and  wandered  off  on  a  spree,  pretending  that 
they  were  searching  for  me.  They  are  of  no  account. 
Send  them  back  to  their  ship,  or  let  them  have  their  blow 
out,  and  then  I'll  warrant  that  they'll  return  to  the 
Belle." 

"Let  me  see  the  scamps,"  the  owner  of  the  Belle 
cried.  "  I  don't  object  to  a  man  getting  drunk  ;  but, 
hang  it,  he  has  no  business  to  leave  his  ship  without  per- 
mission." 

I  felt  some  anxiety  for  the  result,  as  Bowmount  had 
an  eye  like  a  hawk,  and  could  see  as  far  as  most  men.  If 
he  had  ever  noticed  the  crew  of  the  Belle,  he  would  know 
that  Mr.  Reefpoint  and  companion  were  strangers,  and 
that  I  had  deceived  him ;  but  if  he  had  not  paid  much 
attention  to  the  men,  I  had  no  fear  but  that  the  midship- 
man and  petty  officer  would  give  a  good  account  of  them- 
selves. 

At  any  rate,  while  the  soldiers  were  occupied  in  strip- 
ping the  clothes  from  the  back  of  that  old  scamp  who 
called  himself  Colonel  Rhett,  and  the  mulatto  John,  we 
went  to  the  place  where  Mr.  Reefpoint  and  companion 
were  guarded  by  half  a  dozen  soldiers  to  prevent  their 
leaving  until  permitted. 

As  we  approached  the  lad,  he  took  a  pipe  from  his 
mouth,  and  touched  his  slouched  hat  in  true  English 
sailor  style,  frank  and  hearty  as  one  could  desire.  Bow- 
mount  looked  the  two  over  with  a  sharp  eye. 

"  You  belong  to  the  Belle  —  do  you  ?  "  he  demanded. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  both  answered. 

"  What  are  you  doing  here  ?  Don't  you  know  enough 
to  get  drunk  and  keep  on  board  ?  " 

"  No,  sir  ;  "  and  there  was  another  salute. 

"  Where  do  you  belong  ?     North  or  South  ?  " 

"  We  is  Hinglish,  sir,"  replied  Harry,  with  a  genuine 
John  Bull  twang. 


g26  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  And  mighty  willing  to  make  an  honest  penny  by 
blockade-running,  like  all  Englishmen.  I  recollect  your 
faces  now.  Do  you  keep  sober  for  the  rest  of  the  day, 
and  come  on  board  at  night.  I  hate  drunkenness  in  man 
or  boy." 

An  hour  later  we  entered  Charleston,  and  steered  for 
the  steamer,  where  all  the  officers  of  the  party  were  to 
eat  breakfast  at  the  invitation  of  the  Kentuckian,  the 
owner  of  the  vessel,  whose  liberality  was  not  restrained 
by  any  considerations  of  dollars  and  cents  ;  for  when  he 
opened  his  heart,  he  opened  his  hand  at  the  same  time. 

Breakfast  awaited  us ;  and  glad  enough  most  of  the 
party  were  when  they  saw  it  on  the  table.  I  had  an  op- 
portunity to  slip  into  my  state-room  while  the  military 
were  brushing  the  dust  from  their  clothes,  change  my 
dress,  and  remove  some  of  the  stains  from  my  hands  and 
face,  contracted  while  lying  in  the  cell  at  the  haunted 
house. 

The  breakfast  was  protracted  till  past  the  dinner  hour. 
The  military  drank  till  their  faces  flushed  with  the  pota- 
tions which  they  swallowed.  They  toasted  each  other, 
the  cause  whicli  they  served,  their  chiefs,  and  made  such 
bombastic  speeches,  that  one  would  have  thought  the 
North  exhausted,  and  that  the  South  was  merely  on  a 
little  frolic  that  would  end  in  the  course  of  a  day  or  two. 

All  this  I  had  to  listen  to  ;  and  by  keeping  sober  I  ob- 
tained much  valuable  information ;  so'  much,  in  fact,  that 
when  I  saw  Mr.  Welles,  the  secretary  of  the  navy,  and 
laid  my  whole  history  before  him,  he  smiled  in  a  benign 
manner,  at  the  same  time  remarking  that  I  had  done 
enough  for  the  Union  cause,  but  could  not  excuse  the 
course  I  had  deemed  it  best  to  pursue. 

The  fun  and  drinking  waxed  fast  and  furious.  Bowls 
of  punch  were  brought  in  and  emptied,  champagne  was 
opened,  whiskey  was  mixed  with  the  rest  of  the  liquors, 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  827 

and  just  as  General  Rampage  declared  that  he  would  snip 
a  song  for  the  entertainment  of  the  company,  the  steward 
whispered  to  me  that  two  sailors  were  on  the  dock,  and 
wished  to  see  me  for  a  moment. 

I  slipped  from  the  cabin,  no  notice  being  taken  of  my 
disappearance,  and  saw,  as  I  expected,  Mr.  Reefpoint  and 
his  companion,  Barnes,  the  petty  officer,  on  the  dock,  in 
charge  of  a  squad  of  confederate  soldiers. 

"  Hollo  I  what  are  you  doing  with  my  men?  "  I  asked 
the  sergeant  who  commanded  the  squad. 

"  Are  they  your  men  ? "  demanded  the  non-commis- 
sioned officer.  "  They  say  that  they  are,  and  I  have  come 
to  find  out  about  it.  I  reckon  we  want  the  blue-jackets 
on  our  iron-clads  in  case  they  don't  belong  to  you.  We 
are  short  of  sailors,  and  I  have  orders  to  pick  up  all  that 
I  can  find  in  the  streets,  so  that  they  can  serve  the  Con- 
federacy on  the  water  while  we  fight  on  the  land." 

Harry  and  his  companion  made  a  motion  as  though  to 
leave  the  dock  for  the  deck  of  the  vessel ;  but  the  non- 
commissioned officer,  who  was  a  sharp  fellow,  and  had 
served  a  few  years  in  an  attorney's  office,  restrained  them, 
saying,  as  he  did  so,  — 

"  Gently,  my  friends.  We  need  them  so  much  that  we 
must  have  positive  proof  that  all  stragglers  belong  to  the 
vessel  which  claims  them.  Let  me  see  your  crew-list,  and 
then  all  doubts  are  settled." 

"  How  much  do  you  get  for  delivering  sailors  to  the 
captains  of  iron-clads?"  I  asked. 

"  Well,  sir,  I  reckon  I  may  as  well  be  frank  with  you  as 
not.  We  are  paid  twenty  dollars  per  man." 

"  A  small  sum,  considering  the  scarcity  of  the  material. 
But  I'll  tell  you  what  I  am  prepared  to  do.  The  men  are 
mine  ;  yet  I  shall  not  pay  for  them,  neither  shall  I  show 
you  the  crew-list." 

"  Then  we  must  keep  them,"  replied  the  sergeant. 


328  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  Just  as  you  please.  Unless  the  men  are  returned  to 
me  by  to-morrow,  I  shall  seek  them,  and  with  authority 
to  take  them." 

"  All  right,  sir.  I  do  my  duty,  and  you  do  yours. 
Right  about  face.  March." 

The  squad  and  the  sailors  trotted  up  the  dock  ;  and 
when  I  saw  them  under  way,  I  had  more  than  half  re- 
solved to  recall  them,  and  fee  the  soldiers  for  the  sake  of 
saving  the  two  Union  officers,  and  would  have  done  so 
had  I  not  been  prevented  by  Harry's  positive  assurance, 
as  far  as  signs  were  concerned,  that  he  wanted  to  see  the 
interior  of  one  of  the  iron-clads  which  had  just  been  com- 
pleted, and  with  which  the  rebels  threatened  to  clean  out 
the  Federal  ships  at  some  period  not  very  remote. 

I  had  not  thought  of  the  subject,  and  should  not  have 
dared  mention  such  an  expedition  to  the  midshipman, 
fearful  of  the  results.  But,  while  standing  on  the  dock, 
the  project  had  suddenly  entered  Harry's  head,  and  he 
had  signalized  me  that  he  would  see  one  of  the  iron-clads, 
and  that  I  must  permit  him  to  do  so,  as  he  was  resolved 
to  undertake  the  expedition  at  all  hazards. 

In  the  mean  time  the  drinking  in  the  cabin  went  on  fast 
and  furious.  I  could  hear  Bowmount's  voice,  loud  above 
the  rest,  while  attempting  an  argument  on  some  military 
point ;  but  as  yet  he  had  kept  his  temper,  although  he  had 
been  opposed  on  several  occasions,  and  some  of  his  asser- 
tions flatly  contradicted.  Expecting  an  outbreak  every 
moment,  I  thought  that  I  would  remain  on  deck,  and  let 
the  parties  wrangle  to  their  hearts'  content ;  and  just  as  I 
had  arrived  at  this  conclusion,  and  lighted  a  cigar,  General 
Rampage  came  out  of  the  cabin,  his  face  flushed  and 
heated,  and  his  whole  appearance  indicating  an  intense 
devotion  to  the  bottle. 

His  coat  was  off,  his  neck-handkerchief  removed,  and 
the  vest  unbuttoned  from  bottom  to  top.  In  fact,  the 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  320 

general's  appearance  did  not  indicate  the  great  disciplina- 
rian, the  man  who  would  punish  a  soldier  for  a  trifling 
fault. 

He  attempted  to  light  his  cigar  by  the  aid  of  mine,  but 
did  not  accomplish  the  difficult  feat  on  account  of  the  un- 
steadiness of  his  nerves. 

"  You  needn't  think  I'm  drunk,"  he  said,  in  a  severe 
tone,  looking  up  with  a  scowl. 

"  I  have  no  such  thoughts,"  I  replied,  in  a  tone  of  great 
conciliation. 

"  Do  you  think  I'm  drunk,  sir?  " 

"  I'll  prove  to  you  that  I  don't  think  so,  by  asking  a 
favor,"  I  replied. 

"  It's  granted,  sir.  Name  it,  and  you'll  see  that  Gen- 
eral Rampage  can  be  generous  as  well  as  just.  Do  you 
want  half  my  fortune  ?  Take  it  and  be  happy." 

"  I  don't  want  half  your  fortune ;  but  I  do  want  a 
favor." 

"  Good.  It  is  granted  without  delay.  Just  mention 
what  it  is,  and  you  have  it." 

"  Some  of  your  soldiers,"  I  said,  "have  picked  up  two 
of  my  sailors,  and  carried  them  to  one  of  your  iron-clads, 
just  because  I  would  not  pay  a  certain  sum  for  their  re- 
lease. I  v/ant  you  to  exert  your  great  influence,  and  have 
them  restored  to  me." 

"  I'll  do  it.  Give  me  a  paper  and  ink,  and  I'll  write  an 
order  to  Captain  Maulhead  of  the  Palmetto.  That  will 
bring  them,  I  reckon.  I  can  write,  although  you  may 
think  that  I  can't." 

"  I  know  you  can,"  I  remarked. 

And  then  I  called  the  steward  to  bring  me  writing  mate- 
rials ;  and  as  soon  as  they  were  brought,  the  general  stared 
at  them  as  though  he  did  not  comprehend  what  they  were 
intended  for. 

"  Eh  !  what  do  you  want  ?  "  he  asked. 


830  RUNNING    THE    BLOCKADE.. 

"  The  order  for  the  release  of  the  two  sailors." 

"  Yes  ;  but  perhaps  you  think  me  drunk ;  so  drunk  that 
I  can't  write." 

"  No  ;  because  you  can  prove  to  me  that  such  is  not  the 
case.  Just  write  the  order,  and  that  will  set  all  suspicions 
to  rest,  even  if  I  had  any." 

"  So  it  will." 

And  down  sat  the  general,  spread  the  paper  on  a  chick- 
en-coop, frowned  savagely,  nodded  his  head  several  times 
in  a  sage  and  sagacious  manner,  then  closed  his  eyes,  and 
attempted  to  go  to  sleep. 

"  The  order,  general,"  I  said,  and  touched  him  on  thij 
elbow. 

He  looked  up  in  a  gloomy  manner,  and  then  mut- 
tered, — 

"  You  appreciate  me,  but  the  government  don't.  What 
can  I  do  for  you  ?  " 

"  Write  the  order." 

"  Do  you  think  I  can't  write  it  ?  " 

"  I  shall  believe  it  when  you  do  write  it ;  but  not 
before." 

He  looked  furious  for  a  moment,  and  then  commenced 
writing,  much  more  carefully  than  I  had  anticipated.  It 
took  him  some  time  ;  but  at  last  I  had  the  satisfaction  of 
seeing  the  work  completed,  and  receiving  the  note  in  my 
own  hands. 

"  There,"  said  the  general,  with  a  sigh  of  relief,  "  I've 
done  it.  I'm  not  as  drunk  as  I  have  been  ;  but  I'm  drunk 
enough.  Old  Maulhead  is  a  friend  of  mine,  and  I  don't 
think  he'll  refuse  my  request.  If  he  does,  I'll  blow  him 
and  his  useless  iron-clads  to  the  deuce;  and  you  may  tell 
him  so  if  you  have  a  mind." 

The  general  attempted  to  rise  ;  but  his  legs  refused  to 
do  their  duty.  When  he  found  that  he  could  not  stand 
up,  he  frowned,  folded  his  arms,  and  informed  me  that  he 


RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE.  331 

bad  no  idea  of  getting  drunk  ;  that  he  was  not  drunk, 
and  would  shoot  any  man  that  said  he  was  ;  after  which, 
he  laid  down  his  head,  and  went  to  sleep. 

Tn  the  course  of  an  hour  or  more,  the  fun  in  the  cabin 
began  to  decrease.  I  heard  Bowmount's  voice  grow  less 
and  less  boisterous,  the  shouts  of  his  companions  less  wild  , 
the  toasts  were  no  longer  audible,  and  only  by  the  occa- 
sional smash  of  a  drinking-glass  did  the  carousers  indicate 
that  they  were  trying  to  keep  awake. 

At  length  all  was  silent.  I  entered  the  cabin,  and  a 
wonderful  sight  met  my  eyes.  The  Kentuckian  was 
stripped  to  his  shirt  and  trousers,  lying  on  the  transom, 
his  head  pillowed  by  two  champagne  bottles ;  his  com- 
panions, the  military  gentlemen,  were  spread  all  over  the 
cabin  floor ;  some  of  them  with  half-emptied  bottles  by 
their  sides,  and  others  still  grasping  wine-glasses,  showing 
that  drinking  was  their  last  conscious  act. 

I  called  the  steward  and  some  of  the  men,  and  had  the 
unconscious  inebriates  stripped  of  their  gray  coats,  and 
then  stowed  the  fellows  in  state-room  berths,  where  they 
could  sleep  off  their  intoxication  without  the  fear  of  being 
seen  or  disturbed. 

General  Rampage  was  next  removed  from  the  deck, 
where  he  was  sleeping,  the  object  of  considerable  remark 
from  a  large  number  of  idle  negroes. 

The  next  day  we  commenced  discharging  cargo,  and  in 
the  afternoon  I  recollected  that  I  had  promised  Harry 
Bluff,  alias  Midshipman  Reefpoint,  to  obtain  his  release 
from  the  iron:clads  commanded  by  Captain  Maulhead. 

Leaving  the  mate  to  look  after  the  goods  as  they  came 
from  the  ship's  hold,  I  dressed,  and  started  in  search  of 
the  man  who  was  always  promising  to  blow  the  Yankee 
fleet  out  of  the  water,  and  yet  did  not  dare  venture  be- 
yond the  protecting  guns  of  Fort  Suniter,  for  the  simple 
reason  that  he  feared  his  own  vessel  would  follow  the 
course  which  he  promised  his  enemies  should  take. 


S3'2  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

It  was  not  difficult  to  find  Captain  Maulhead  and  his 
fleet.  Most  of  the  iron-clads  were  alongside  of  the  dock, 
undergoing  repairs.  In  fact,  they  were  always  being  re- 
paired. If  they  steamed  out  of  the  harbor  a  mile  or  two, 
some  part  of  their  machinery  was  sure  to  break  or  give 
out,  and  a  river  steamer  had  to  be  sent  to  tow  the  un- 
wieldy monsters  back  to  a  secure  resting-place. 

Then  the  Charleston  ladies,  who  had  built  one  of  the 
most  destructive  looking  of  the  fleet,  giving  their  jewels 
and  money  most  readily  for  the  purpose,  would  hold  an 
indignation  meeting,  and  call  on  Captain  Maulhead  to 
explain  why  he  did  not  carry  out  his  intentions  of  sinking 
the  Yankee  scum,  agreeably  to  promise. 

Then  Captain  Maulhead  would  drink  about  a  gallon, 
more  or  less,  of  commissary  whiskey,  and  appear  before 
the  meeting  to  explain  matters.  He  was  a  good-looking 
man,  and  when  under  the  influence  of  liquor,  quite  elo- 
quent, and  appeared  as  brave  as  a  lion.  He  said  that  an 
apology  was  due  to  the  young  and  handsome  ladies  of 
Charleston,  a  city  that  could  boast  of  more  beauty,  more 
patriotism,  more  real  American  revolution  courage,  than 
any  other  city  in  the  world,  lie  had  intended  to  sink  the 
whole  Yankee  fleet,  Yankees  and  all,  and  he  would  yet 
do  it,  or  sink  himself  to  the  bottom  of  the  ocean.  Had 
not  the  iron-clads'  shafts  broken  just  as  they  did,  a  battle 
would  have  been  fought,  and  a  victory  won,  that  would 
have  electrified  the  world. 

Then  the  beautiful  ladies  would  applaud,  and  the  gal- 
lant captain  was  told  to  try  his  luck  once  more,  which  he 
did  with  his  usual  success,  except  once,  when  he  sunk  one 
of  our  steamers,  and  compelled  a  second  one  to  run  away, 
while  a  third  surrendered  at  sight,  but  still  managed  to 
escape. 

Such  was  Captain  Maulhead,  whom  I  expected  to  see, 
and  whose  favor  I  was  to  secure. 


RUNNING    THE    BLOCKADE.  333 

On  gaining  the  deck  of  the  iron-clad  Spitfire,  \rhich  I 
was  only  enabled  to  do  by  representing  that  I  had  urgent 
business  with  Captain  Maulhcad,  I  sent  ray  name  in  the 
cabin  by  the  sentry,  and  then  awaited  the  result. 

In  the  mean  time  I  made  good  use  of  my  eyes.  I 
saw  that  the  Spitfire  was  formidable  in  appearance  only. 
She  had  been  thrown  together  in  the  most  unworkmanlike 
manner.  Her  bolts  were  not  clinched,  as  they  should  have 
been,  her  machinery  seemed  to  be  patched  up,  covered 
with  rust,  and  out  of  gear,  while  the  guns  which  I  saw 
were  mounted  in  such  a  manner  that  they  were  liable  to 
pitch  overboard,  or  else  kick  clean  across  the  deck,  knock- 
ing down  all  who  were  in  the  course  of  the  ponderous 
weapons.  In  a  heavy  sea  it  would  have  been  impossible 
to  operate  them  at  any  angle  except  at  about  sixty-five 
degrees,  sending  the  charge  towards  the  heavens,  instead 
of  in  the  direction  of  an  enemy. 

I  had  just  time  to  note  thef  e  things,  and  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  to  appear  perfectly  i  adifferent,  —  for  sharp  eyes 
were  on  me  all  the  time  I  was  on  board,  —  when  the 
sentry  passed  the  word  for  me  to  enter  the  august  pres- 
ence of  Captain  Maulhead. 

I  found  the  naval  gentleman  seated  at  a  table,  with  a 
chart  before  him.  In  his  hand  he  held  a  rule  and 'a  pair 
of  compasses,  and  he  seemed  to  be  measuring  distances, 
and  pondering  on  the  results,  for  t?  did  not  look  up  when 
I  entered  the  cabin,  but  muttered  in  an  audible  tone,  — 

"  Five  miles  due  west  is  Fort  Wagner,  two  miles  east  is 
Castle  IMnckney,  and  —  " 

He  looked  up,  as  though  his  calculations  had  been  sud- 
denly interrupted  by  my  presence. 

'  Well,  sir,"  —  and  he  made  a  note  on  a  sheet  of  paper, 
-u  \vhat  can  I  do  for  you  ?  " 

"My  name  is  Barnwell,"  I  said.  "  I  am  caj  tain  of  the 
blockade-runner  Belle  M 


334  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 

"  The  deuce  you  are  !  Hang  me  if  I  didn't  take  you 
for  an  official  from  Richmond  —  some  spy  from  the  navy 
department.  Here,  steward ;  clean  off  these  maps  and 
papers,  and  set  on  the  whiskey  again.  It's  a  false  alarm, 
after  all.  Captain  Barnwell,  take  a  seat.  You  are  wel- 
come, sir,  to  my  hospitalities.  It's  little  I  have  to  offer 
you.  Not  such  fare  and  pay  as  you  blockade-runners 
enjoy." 

"  But  the  glory,"  1  remarked.     "  You  reap  all  that." 

"  Glory  be  hanged!  "\Vh«',»  glory  can  there  be  in  ex- 
changing shots  witii  the  Yankee  fleet,  and  then  running 
for  shelter  under  a  sand  battery  ?  " 

"  But  you  might  fight  them  successfully  with  an  equal 
force,"  I  suggested. 

"  Fight  the  deuce  I "  cried  the  captain  with  scorn,  push- 
ing the  bottle  towards  me.  "  Look  at  my  men,  and  then 
look  at  the  Yanks.  Hang  it,  what  can  I  do  with  such 
cattle  as  I  have  under  my  orders  ?  Half  of  them  are  sea- 
sick if  I  run  out  to  Fort  Sumter." 

"  I'm  sorry  for  you,  captain,  and  could  wish  you  better 
luck.  I  drink  to  you." 

"  Thank  you.  Now  let  me  know  what  I  can  do  for 
you." 

"  Simply  to  discharge  two  of  my  men,  who  were  picked 
up  in  the  streets  yesterday." 

Captain  Maulhead  struck  his  fist  on  the  table  with  a 
blow  that  made  everything  shake. 

"•  Hang  iiia  if  I  didn't  suspect  what  you  were  after  ;  I 
did  indeed.  I  told  Green  that  some  one  would  be  after 
those  two  men,  and  Green  bet  me  a  bottle  of  whiskey 
that  I  couldn't  keep  them." 

"  O,  I'll  discharge  the  bet  if  you'll  discharge  the  men," 
I  answered,  with  a  pleasant  smile,  in  hopes  of  keeping 
the  man  in  good  humor.  "I've  got  a  barrel  of  Scotch 
whiskey,  of  the  true  smoky  flavor,  on  board.  Send  a 
demijohn,  and  I'U  fill  j';." 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  835 

"  That's  liberal  on  your  part,  and  I'll  send  for  the 
liquor  ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  I  can't  give  up  the  men." 

"  Then  I'll  be  hanged  if  you  can  have  the  liquor,"  I 
answered  in  a  blunt  tone ;  for  I  suspected  it  was  the  only 
method  of  meeting  him  on  equal  ground.  "  One  good 
turn  deserves  another,  you  know." 

"  The  interests  of  the  Confederacy  won't  permit  me  to 
go  outside  of  the  line  of  my  duty." 

"  I  supposed  that  you  would  view  the  matter  in  that 
light,"  I  remarked,  lighting  a  cigar,  and  handing  half  a 
dozen  to  the  captain,  —  a  prize  which  he  seized  upon  with 
avidity,  —  "  so  came  armed  on  all  points.  The  men  were 
picked  up  in  the  streets  while  on  libert}^.  I  could  have 
had  them  back  by  paying  a  small  sum,  but  it  seemed  such 
an  imposition  that  I  concluded  to  test  the  matter  by 
appearing  before  you,  and  pleading  their  cause  and  my 
own." 

"  If  you  only  knew  what  awful  hard  work  I  have  to 
get  hold  of  the  right  kind  of  men,  you  would  not  blame 
me  for  keeping  those  two  fellows  —  seamen  every  inch 
of  them,  and  smart  at  that." 

"  That  is  the  reason  I  want  them.  Only  smart  men  can 
run  the  blockade,  you  know." 

"  But  you  see  you  have  the  pick  of  all  the  men  in  port. 
So  much  money  is  made  by  cheating  the  Yankee  fleet,  that 
the  best  sailors  go  to  you." 

"  You  can't  blame  them  for  it.  It  is  natural.  Hu- 
man nature  is  the  same  with  sailors  that  it  is  with  lands- 
men." ' 

"  I  know  ;  but  we  must  draw  the  line  somewhere,  or 
the  confederate  navy  will  go  to  the  deuce  in  short  order." 

"Then  you  won't  give  them  up?  "  I  asked,  none  too 
well  pleased  at  the  captain's  firmness. 

"  I  don't  say  that ;  but  I  do  say  that  I  need  a  little 
more  time  to  think  the  matter  over.  Suppose  you  should 


336  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

come  and  see  me  in  the  course  of  a  few  days  ?  There  is 
no  hurry  in  such  matters,  you  know." 

"Ay,  but  there  is  hurry,"  I  answered  in  a  firm  tone. 
"  In  a  few  days  I  shall  be  ready  to  sail,  and  can't  leave 
my  men  behind." 

The  captain  thought  of  the  matter  before  he  again 
spoke.  Then  he  leaned  forward,  and  whispered  confiden- 
tially, — 

"  To  tell  you  the  truth,  Captain  Barnwell,  I  am  getting 
ready  to  make  a  raid  on  the  enemy.  I  mean  to  strike 
them  some  night  this  week,  and  it  will  go  hard  with  me 
if  I  don't  send  half  a  dozen  of  the  Yankee  ships  to  the 
bottom.  My  plans  are  all  laid,  and  can't  fail  if  I  muster 
the  right  men." 

This  was  the  most  important  information  I  had  received 
since  I  had  been  detailed  for  secret  service.  Now  the 
question  arose,  How  could  I  get  the  news  to  the  Federal 
commanders?  They  must  know  it,  and  be  prepared  to 
act  with  promptness  when  the  rebel  rams  and  gunboats 
stole  past  Fort  Sumter.  Unless  forewarned,  there  was 
danger  to  the  fleet ;  for  we  all  know  that  fancied  security 
leads  to  want  of  proper  vigilance. 

There  was  but  one  way  in  which  I  could  send  the  de- 
sired information.  That  was  by  the  Yankee  middy  and 
his  friend  and  shipmate.  If  I  could  secure  their  release,  I 
thought  there  would  be  but  little  trouble  in  getting  them 
off,  by  the  aid  of  a  boat  and  a  dark  night.  They  could 
give  the  alarm,  and  then  Captain  Maulhead  would  get 
more  than  he  bargained  for. 

All  these  thoughts  flashed  through  my  mind,  while  I 
sat  listening  to  the  captain's  plans,  and  assisting  him  to 
empty  his  whiskey  bottle.  If  he  could  have  read  my 
thoughts,  I  should  never  have  left  the  cabin  alive.  But, 
luckily  for  me,  he  did  not  have  the  least  suspicion  that  I 
was  not  what  I  assumed. 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  337 

I  was  just  about  to  produce  the  order  that  General 
Rampage  had  written  for  me,  when  the  steward  once  more 
entered  the  cabin. 

"  Two  gen'men,  sar,  wants  to  see  you,  sar.  From  Rich- 
mond, sar." 

"  Confusion  I  "  muttered  the  captain,  in  an  agony  of 
alarm  for  fear  the  visitors  were  agents  of  the  navy  de- 
partment. "  Here  ;  sweep  off  the  bottle  and  glasses.  Be 
lively.  On  with  the  charts  and  tools, —  Don't  go  yet." 

I  had  risen  for  the  purpose  of  taking  my  leave,  with  the 
request  to  be  allowed  to  call  again  in  the  course  of  an 
hour  or  two. 

"  Don't  go  yet.  Enter  my  state-room,  and  wait  till  I 
am  free  from  the  fellows,  whoever  they  are.  I'll  get  rid 
of  them  unless  they  want  to  overhaul  everything  ;  and  if 
they  do,  I'll  try  and  put  them  off  till  to-morrow." 

I  could  but  obey  the  captain  ;  and  as  I  retreated  the 
Richmond  gentlemen  entered  the  cabin. 

"  Captain,"  said  one  of  the  visitors,  in  a  tone  that 
sounded  quite  familiar,  "  we  have  ventured  to  call  on 
you  for  some  information,  which  the  navy  department  at 
Richmond  assured  us  you  would  be  willing  to  give." 

"  Then  you  are  not  agents  from  the  department  ?  " 
asked  the  captain. 

"No,  sir.;  we  are  simple  Southern  gentlemen." 

"  I'm  glad  to  hear  it.  Steward,  take  away  these  charts 
and  tools,  and  bring  on  the  whiskey  and  cigars.  Gentle- 
men, I'm  glad  to  see  you.  Sit  down,  and  let  me  hear  how 
I  can  serve  you  ;  for,  although  I  am  the  busiest  man  in 
Charleston,  Heaven  forbid  that  I  should  not  bo  willing 
to  give  some  of  my  time  to  my  countrymen  when  they 
honor  me  with  a  call.  Steward,  a  fresh  bottle  of  whis- 
key." 

"  Habn't  got  a  fresh  bottle,  nor  a  salt  bottle  either.  I 
told  you  dat  once  afore,  sir." 


338  RUNNING    THE    BLOCKADE. 

"  Ah  !  so  you  did.  Well,  gentlemen,  we  shall  have  to 
make  the  best  of  what  we  have  on  the  table.  Don't  be 
afraid  of  it.  Whiskey  never  hurts  any  one." 

"  We  hope  to  be  able  to  present  you  with  a  barrel  of 
the  best  brand  to  be  found  in  the  market  before  many 
days,"  said  the  gentleman  whose  voice  seemed  familiar. 

"  Thank  you,  sir.  And  what  must  I  do  to  deserve  such 
generous  treatment  ?  for  I  am  too  much  of  a  man  of  the 
world  not  to  know  that  favors  are  returned  with  favors." 

There  was  a  momentary  hesitation  on  the  part  of  the 
visitors,  as  if  they  did  not  exactly  know  how  to  commence 
on  the  subject  nearest  their  hearts. 

"I'm  all  attention,  gentlemen,"  cried  Captain  Maul- 
head.  ''  Help  yourself  to  whiskey.  There's  some  left,  I 
think.  No  ?  then  I'm  mighty  sorry,  on  your  account  as 
well  as  my  own." 

"  The  fact  of  it  is,  captain,"  said  the  visitor  who  con- 
ducted the  conversation,  "  we  want  your  advice  as  to  the 
proper  method  of  entering  the  port  in  the  night  time. 
We  are  about  to  engage  in  blockade-running,  and  desire 
to  know  what  points  will  be  best  on  which  to  display  sig- 
nals of  welcome  or  warning." 

While  the  visitor  was  speaking,  I  thought  that  it  was 
desirable  to  see  his  face.  I  had  a  suspicion  that  I 
should  know  it ;  and  if  such  was  the  case,  it  was  one  of 
the  most  remarkable  circumstances  that  ever  came  under 
my  knowledge. 

I  moved  the  door  of  the  state-room  a  little,  and  was 
enabled  to  peer  through  into  the  cabin,  and  obtain  a 
glimpse  of  those  seated  at  the  table.  I  looked  long  and 
eagerly,  for  I  could  scarce  believe  my  eyes. 

No ;  there^was  no  mistake  in  the  premises.  Unless  I 
was  laboring  under  some  hallucination,  at  that  table  sat 
my  old  employer,  Mr.  Blank,  the  Boston  merchant,  the 
patriot,  the  man  of  wealth,  the  father  of  Miss  Hatty 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

Blank,  whose  curls  and  bright  eyes  had  captivated  m} 
heart  the  first  time  I  ever  saw  her  in  her  father's  count- 
ing-room ;  and  that  impression  was  but  strengthened 
when  we  met  at  Washington,  where  I  was  the  means  of 
rendering  her  some  assistance,  which  she  was  gracious 
enough  to  acknowledge  in  terms  that  set  my  heart  palpi- 
tating like  a  river  steamboat  under  a  heavy  head  of  steam. 

Nearly  opposite  Mr.  Blank,  but  so  that  I  could  see  his 
face  quite '  distinctly,  sat  old  Crosstrees,  the  retired  sea 
captain,  with  money  enough  to  last  him  all  his  days,  even 
if  he  was  extravagant  in  his  family  and  out  of  it. 

That  same  old  fellow  had  tempted  me,  one  day,  on  State 
Street,  with  the  idea  that  blockade-running  would  pay  ; 
but  I  had  refused  to  listen  to  the  proposition  even  for  a 
moment,  and  on  that  supposition  imagined  that  Cross- 
trees  had  given  up  the  idea.  I  little  thought  that  I 
should  so  soon  be  engaged  in  the  disreputable  business. 
But  such  was  the  case  ;  and  now  it  only  remained  for  mo 
to  hear  what  Mr.  Blank  and  the  old  captain  had  to  offer, 
and  after  they  had  spoken,  to  keep  out  of  their  way  until 
I  could  so  disguise  myself  that  they  would  not  know  me 
should  we  chance  to  meet. 

"As  far  as  the  signals  are  concerned,"  Captain  Maul- 
head  said,  after  a  refreshing  pull  at  the  whiskey,  "  you 
had  better  arrange  that  with  3Tour  consignees.  You  see, 
each  steamer  that  enters  or  leaves  the  port  has  different 
signals,  known  only  to  those  who  arrange  them.  This 
is  an  advantage,  because  it  rather  puzzles  the  Yankees. 
Of  course  I'm  all  ready  to  help  you  as  far  as  I  can  ;  but  aa 
for  interfering  with  signals,  it  ain't  in  my  line.  My  duty 
is  to  hunt  out  Yankees,  and  fight  them  wherever  found. 
That's  what  I  am  here  for." 

"  You  wouldn't  s'arch  long,  I  guess,  if  you  were  very 
eager,"  snarled  old  Crosstrees,' who  now  spoke  for  the  first 
time,  and  with  considerable  twang  to  his  tone.  "  The 
23 


340  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADF 

Yankees  ain't  far  off,  and  they  is  keen  in  a  fight  if  they 
can  find  some  one  to  battle." 

Captain  Maulhead  smote  the  table  with  his  fist ;  but 
instead  of  manifesting  anger,  he  laughed. 

"  Hang  me,"  he  said,  "  if  you  ain't  a  Yankee." 

"  Well,"  said  Crosstrees,  shaking  himself  like  a  New- 
foundland dog  after  a  visit  to  the  water,  "  I  ain't  any- 
thin'  else,  now  you  may  jist  believe." 

"  I  have  engaged  Captain  Cross  "  (he  left  off  part  of 
the  name),  Mr.  Blank  said,  in  his  calm,  dignified  tone, 
"  for  the  purpose  of  taking  charge  of  one  of  the  steamers 
I  have  purchased  in  England,  and  expect  in  Bermuda 
next  month.  His  familiarity  with  the  Southern  ports 
and  coast  qualifies  him  for  the  position." 

"  Of  course  you  can  do  as  you  please,  but  I  shouldn't 
trust  all  to  one  of  our  enemies.  A  Yankee  is  a  Yankee, 
all  the  world  over  ;  although  I  don't  mean  any  offence  to 
you,  Captain  Cross." 

"  No ;  I  s'pose  you  don't ;  but  it's  a  very  cool  way  of 
tellin'  me  that  I  ain't  on  the  square,  and  all  sich.  How- 
ever, I'm  a  old  salt,  and  don't  expect  nothin'  else  from  a 
man  what  was  edicated  at  the  expense  of  the  government, 
and  then  turned  agin  her." 

T  expected  to  see  Captain  Maulhead,  who  had  received 
his  education  at  the  Naval  Academy,  fly  into  a  terrible  pas- 
sion, and  order  the  immediate  arrest  of  Crosstrees  ;  but  he 
did  no  such  thing.  He  swallowed  the  whiskey  that  re- 
mained in  his  tumbler,  and  then  roared  with  laughter,  as 
he  said,  — 

"Well  done,  my  son  of  Neptune.  Southern  air  can't 
break  you  of  quarter-deck  habits.  The  old  sea-dog  will 
show  his  head  and  let  his  tongue  be  heard  once  in  a 
while.  Well,  well,  I  like  you  all  the  better  for  it ;  that's 
a  fact :  but  at  the  same  time,  let  me  caution  you  that  all 
Southern  officers  are  not  as  good-natured  as  I  am  ;  so  take 
warning." 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  341 

"  I'm  sure  you  will  excuse  Captain  Cross,"  Mr.  Blank 
said,  in  that  persuasive  tone  he  so  well  knew  how  to  adopt. 
"  He  is  a  genuine  Yankee,  and  —  " 

"  If  he  were  not,  he  wouldn't  be  here,"  interrupted 
Captain  Maulhead,  in  a  tone  so  sarcastic,  that  I  thought, 
if  the  two  visitors  had  any  sense  of  their  own  meanness 
and  position,  they  would  wish  themselves  back  at  the 
North,  doing  what  they  could  for  their  country,  instead 
of  attempting  to  injure  it. 

But  the  men  were  too  intent  on  the  course  which  they 
intended  to  pursue  to  care  for  such  slight  checks  as  the 
one  they  had  just  received.  Money  was  to  be  made  run- 
ning the  blockade ;  consequently  they  forgot  all  moral 
considerations  in  hopes  of  grasping  some  of  the  gold  which 
was  showered  upon  the  adventurous.  They  had  entered 
upon  their  detested  course  resolved  to  perform  all  the 
duties  that  came  before  them  ;  to  swallow  all  the  insults 
that  were  thrown  at  their  heads,  except  on  special  occa- 
sions, such  as  I  have  alluded  to,  when  blunt  old  Crosstrees, 
unable  to  restrain  his  quarter-deck  spirit,  burst  out,  and  dis- 
closed the  fact  that  he  was  a  Yankee,  and  possessed  some 
of  the  real  New  England  independence,  that  could  not  be 
quelled  at  all  times. 

But  I  have  wandered  from  the  cabin  scene,  where  three 
men  were  seated  at  a  table,  with  an  empty  black  bottle 
and  two  empty  tumblers  before  them.  I  say  two  empty 
tumblers,  because  the  aristocratic  Mr.  Blank  was  not 
the  man  to  burn  his  throat  with  new  whiskey,  or  any 
such  liquor.  Consequently  he  made  a  show  of  drink- 
ing, yet  did  not  allow  any  of  the  vil»  stuff  ta  enter 
his  mouth;  while  old  Crosstrees  had  no  such  scruples. 
He  would  have  swallowed  a  gallon  of  the  fiery  liquor,  and 
.hen  called  for  more,  totally  unaware  that  it  was  not  as 
mild  as  milk-punch. 

Silence  reigned  supreme  for  a  moment  in  the  cabin ;  but 


&(2  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

at  last  Mr.  Blank  began  to  talk  Southern  patriotism,  and 
BO  interested  Captain  Maulhead  in  his  conversation,  while 
Crosstrees  chewed  tobacco  and  wished  for  more  grog  at 
the  same  time. 

Thus  they  kept  me  concealed  for  nearly  an  hour  ;  but  at 
last  they  arose,  and  left  the  cabin  ;  and  once  more  I  found 
myself  face  to  face  with  Captain  Maulhead,  eager  to  carry 
my  point,  and  full  as  eager  to  follow  my  old  friends,  and 
find  out  what  they  intended  to  do. 

"  By  the  way,"  said  Captain  Maulhead,  as  I  took  a  seat 
at  his  table,  "  you  heard  all  those  fellows  said  —  didn't 
you?" 

"  Pretty  near  all.  I  was  not  much  interested  in  what 
they  had  to  say." 

"  They  wanted  me  to  help  them  ;  but  I'll  see  them 
hanged  first,  and  then  I  won't.  I  go  in  for  my  friends." 

"  I  hope  that  you  count  me  as  one." 

"  Of  course.  Haven't  you  promised  me  a  few  gallons 
of  whiskey  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  but  you  have  not  promised  me  the  discharge  of 
my  men,  captain.  It  is  important  that  I  should  have 
them." 

"  O,  thunder !  don't  bother  me  on  that  jpoint.  I  want 
the  men  more  than  you  do.  Come  ;  say  no  more  about 
them." 

"  I  supposed  that  you  would  desire  to  keep  them,"  I 
said,  with  a  laugh.  "General  Rampage  told  me  so." 

"  Ah  !  he  is  a  sensible  man.  He  kno\\Ts  how  important 
it  is  that  I  should  have  the  men." 

"  Yes ;  he  is  so  sensible  that  he  gave  me  this  note, 
requesting  you  to  discharge  the  two  men  I  claim." 

I  handed  him  the  paper.  The  captain  looked  mad  for  a 
moment,  but  laughed,  as  he  said, — 

"  I  reckon  I'll  have  to  comply  \vith  Rampage's  request, 
although  I  know  he  was  half  drunk  when  he  wrote  the 
note." 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE,  343 

"  How  can  you  tell  ?  " 

"  O,  I  know  his  writing  well  enough  to  tell  when  he  is 
drunk  or  sober." 

"  Then  you  will  comply  with  the  request  ?  " 

"  Of  course.  Rampage  is  such  a  wilful  man,  that,  if  I 
should  refuse  him,  he  would  hate  me  forever.  Best  to 
conciliate  such  people,  for  there  is  no  knowing  who  will 
turn  up  a  trump  in  this  war." 

The  captain  struck  the  bell  that  stood  on  the  table 
before  him.  The  steward  appeared. 

"  Tell  Lieutenant  Drinkhard  to  discharge  those  two 
men  who  belong  to  the  Belle.  And,  after  you  have  did 
that,  take  the  largest  demijohn  on  board,  and  go  to  the 
Belle,  and  get  it  filled  with  whiskey.  If  I  lose  the  men, 
I  won't  the  liquor." 

In  a  few  minutes  the  lieutenant  entered  the  cabin  with 
Mr.  Reefpoint  and  his  companion,  the  petty  officer.  They 
gave  a  regular  sailor  bow,  and  a  twitch  at  their  forelocks, 
as  they  stood  before  the  confederate  commander. 

"  Well,  boys,  hadn't  you  rather  stop  with  me,  and  fight 
the  Yankees,  than  lead  a  blockade-running  life  ?  Think 
of  the  glory  to  be  acquired  by  whipping  the  enemy." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  but  s'pose  we  don't  whip,  but  get  whipped  ! 
then  whar  is  the  glory  ?  "  demanded  the  Yankee  midship- 
man, in  a  tone  that  was  not  insolent,  although  it  sounded 
a  little  pert. 

"Humph,"  muttered  Captain  Maulhead;  "you  are  too 
smart  for  my  ship.  If  you  hadn't  said  you  were  a  son  of 
John  Bull,  I  should  have  put  you  down  as  Yankees.  But 
go  your  way.  You  are  discharged ;  but,  if  I  should  get 
hold  of  you  a  second  time,  I  shan't  let  go  in  a  hurry." 

The  men  left  the  cabin  after  a  duck  of  their  heads  ;  and 
in  a  few  minutes  I  followed  them,  promising  Captain 
Maulhead  to  see  him  again  in  a  few  days.  On  the  dock  I 
found  Mr.  Reefpoint  and  companion  waiting  for  me.  I 


844  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

gave  them  a  sign,  and  they  followed  me  up  the  wharf  until 
we  reached  a  point  where  we  could  speak  without  obser- 
vation. 

"  Well,  Harry,  what  luck  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Splendid,  sir.  The  iron-clad  fleet  is  as  weak  as  the 
confederate  cause.  The  ships  are  all  botched  in  building 
If  we  were  ready  for  them,  they  couldn't  hurt  us,  although 
they  might  do  us  some  damage  in  the  ramming  line." 

"  Your  conclusions  are  right ;  and  now  how  can  you  con- 
vey the  information  to  the  fleet  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  sir,  how  that  can  be  done  ;  but  I'll 
think  of  the  matter." 

"  And  I  have  already  thought  of  it.  Don't  you  think, 
that,  if  a  boat  was  left  in  such  a  manner  that  you  could 
slip  into  it  unobserved,  you  could  reach  the  fleet  before 
morning  ? ' ' 

''  We  might  try,  sir.  If  the  boat  is  small  and  light,  we 
could  work  past  the  guards.  At  any  rate  it  is  our  only 
hope  for  escape." 

"  You  must  not  fail,"  I  remarked,  as  I  thought  of  the 
great  amount  at  stake.  "  Failure  would  be  disgrace  in  this 
case." 

"  We  will  do  all  that  Yankees  can  do  under  the  most 
trying  circumstances,"  Harry  said,  in  a  tone  so  confident, 
that  I  could  not  help  admiring  the  lad,  he  was  so  bold  and 
generous,  so  handsome  and  free. 

Just  at  this  moment  I  looked  across  the  street,  and  saw 
Mr.  Blank  and  Captain  Crosstrees.  They  were  walking 
along  the  sidewalk,  with  heads  down,  talking  in  earnest 
but  low  tones. 

"  Harry,  do  you  know  the  tall  gentleman  who  is 
opposite  ?  " 

The  midshipman  looked  attentively,  and  then  rubbed 
his  eyes  as  though  he  cpuld  hardly  believe  them. 

"  Good  Heavens !  "  he  said,  "  that  looks  like  my  uncle 
Blank  of  Boston." 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  34,5 

The  midshipman  glanced  at  my  face,  and  saw  that  he 
was  correct  in  his  supposition. 

"  It  is  him  !  "  he  cried,  and  started  to  run  across  the 
street. 

I  laid  my  hand  on  the  lad's  arm,  and  held  him  fast. 

"You  must  keep  away  from  him,"  I  whispered.  "It 
won't  do  to  speak  with  him  here  in  Charleston." 

"  Not  speak  to  my  uncle  !  "  the  lad  cried,  in  tones  of 
surprise.  "  Why,  what's  up  ?  " 

"  I  don't  think  he  would  care  to  have  you  see  him  in 
Charleston,"  I  remarked. 

"  Why  not  ?  He's  a  good  kind  uncle,  and  was  always 
glad  to  see  me." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  of  it." 

"  And,  if  he  is  here  in  Charleston,  it  is  because  he  is 
a  prisoner,  and  on  parole." 

"  He  is  not  a  prisoner,  Harry  ;  and  he  is  not  on  parole." 

u  Then  what  is  he,  sir  ?  " 

"He  is  here  to  get  ready  to  engage  in  blockade- 
running." 

"  I  can't  believe  it,  sir.  My  uncle  is  a  great  Union  man, 
a  patriot,  and  wouldn't  engage  in  such  business.  Why, 
he  has  given  money  to  aid  the  cause,  and  help  our  sick  and 
wounded  soldiers.  O,  no  I  don't  tell  me  that  he  has 
engaged  in  blockade-running,  or  thinks  of  it.  I  can't 
believe  it." 

"  Then  I  am  sorry  that  I  must  undeceive  you." 

"  But  who  are  you  ?  "  cried  the  lad  in  a  passionate  tone. 
"  What  are  you  ?  A  rebel  or  patriot  ?  Are  you  for  the 
Union,  or  against  it?  Tell  me  something  concerning 
yourself.  You  are  full  of  mystery.  At  one  time  I  meet 
you  on  board  a  United  States  ship,  and  then  I  find  you 
cutting  out  blockade-runners,  commanding  them,  hand  in 
in  hand  with  prominent  rebels,  friends  with  all,  and  yet 
true  to  none.  Forgive  me  for  speaking  so  plainly,"  — for 


346  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

the  boy  saw  an  expression  of  pain  on  my  face,  —  "  but  recol- 
lect you  have  just  accused  a  dear  uncle  of  treasonable 
practices." 

"I  can  make  no  explanations,"  I  answered.  "Some 
day  you  may  know  the  truth,  but  now  my  mouth  is  sealed. 
I  can't  open  it  even  to  enlighten  so  brave  a  little  fellow  as 
yourself." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,  I  am  sure,  for  the  compliment.  I 
hope  that  it  is  deserved.  But  still  it  must  not  make  me 
forget  the  main  subject  of  our  conversation  —  my  uncle. 
See ;  he  has  stopped,  and  is  looking  up  and  down  the 
street.  Do  Jet  me  go  to  him." 

"  And  have  him  disown  you  ?  " 

"  0,  there  is  no  fear  of  that,  sir.  You  shall  see  how 
warmly  he  will  receive  me.  He  is  not  the  uncle  to  turn  a 
cold  shoulder  to  a  nephew." 

I  thought  of  the  subject  for  a  moment,  and  concluded 
that  the  midshipman  could  do  no  harm  unless  he  made  i 
scene  in  the  streets,  and  thus  attracted  attention  from 
those  who  were  in  the  vicinity. 

•"  You  can  go  to  him,  Harry,"  I  whispered  ;  "  but  mind 
and  have  no  words  with  him.  Your  safety  and  the  safety 
of  your  uncle  demands  it." 

"  All  right,  sir.  You  just  keep  quiet  for  a  moment,  and 
see  how  uncle  Blank  will  welcome  me." 

"  Don't  mention  my  name,''  I  said.  "  Be  careful  of 
that." 

"  All  right,  sir.     I  will  recollect." 

With  these  words  the  lad  started  across  the  street,  and 
confronted  Mr.  Blank.  I  could  hear  all  that  passed  be- 
tween the  parties,  while  concealed  behind  a  fence  that 
had  been  built  as  a  pen  for  some  small  animals. 

"  Why,  uncle  Blank,  who  would  have  thought  of  see- 
ing you  in  Charleston  !  "  cried  the  lad.  advancing  with 
extended  hands. 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  347 

The  Boston  merchant  was  so  astonished,  that  he  stag- 
gered back,  blushed  red,  and  then  turned  white,  and 
trembled  violently;  and,  had  not  old  Crosstrees  come  to 
the  rescue,  he  might  have  acknowledged  the  nephew's 
salutation.  But  the  gruff  old  captain,  with  a  quarter- 
deck air,  roared  out,  — 

"  Who's  you  talkin'  to,  youngster  ?  What  in  creation 
do  you  mean  by  speakin'  to  us  in  that  style  ?  Go  about 
yer  business,  or  Til  try  a  rope's  end  over  yer  shoulders." 

"  No,  you  won't,  sir,"  replied  the  midshipman,  who  was 
a  lad  of  some  spirit,  and  was  not  in  the  habit  of  being 
addressed  in  that  style  by  a  sea-dog  whom  he  could  teach, 
as  far  as  science  was  concerned,  all  that  goes  to  make  a 
naval  officer,  who  has  been  educated  in  the  United  States 
Naval  Academy,  perfect. 

"  No,  sir,"  continued  Harry,  firmly,  but  with  courtesy. 
"  Because  I  see  fit  to  speak  with  my  uncle,  you  must  not 
think  I  would  suffer  you  to  insult  me." 

"  Your  uncle,  boy  !  what  do  you  mean  ?  "  demanded 
Mr.  Blank,  who  had  now  recovered  his  State  Street  assur- 
ance, and  assumed  an  air  that  would  have  told  had  he 
been  face  to  face  with  a  rival  merchant. 

Harry  looked  at  his  uncle  in  astonishment. 

"  Do  you  mean  to  tell  me  that  you  ain't  my  uncle 
Blank  ?  "  he  demanded. 

"  I  don't  know  anything  about  him,  sir,"  was  the  gruff 
answer. 

"  And  haven't  you  a  daughter  named  Hatty  Blank,  my 
cousin  ?  " 

"No,  sir." 

"  Are  you  sure  ?  " 

"  Do  you  mean  to  insult  me,  boy  ?  " 

"  No,  sir,  1  do  not ;  but  still  I  hardly  know  what  to  say, 
1  am  so  surprised." 

"  Then  » ay  nothin',  boy,  but  be  off  to  your  work,  if  you 


848  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

have  any,"  muttered  old  Crosstrees,  in  a  quarter-deck 
tone. 

';  Nay,  don't  speak  so  cross  to  the  boy,"  Mr.  Blank  said, 
*n  a  gentle  manner.  "  He  has  made  some  queer  mistake  ; 
but  still  we  must  not  be  angry  with  him.  He  is  honest  in 
bis  belief,  no  doubt." 

"•  That  sounds  like  the  voice  and  sentiments  of  my 
own  dear  uncle,"  cried  the  midshipman,  who  recollected 
the  many  acts  of  kindness  which  Mr.  Blank  had  per- 
formed. 

The  Boston  merchant's  face  assumed  a  hard  aspect, 
stern  and  determined  —  a  regular  State  Street  front  ; 
such  a  face  as  he  would  have  put  on  had  a  poor,  unknown 
man  asked  him  to  loan  a  thousand  dollars  for  ninety  days 
without  interest  or  security. 

"  Boy,"  he  said,  "  I  may  look  like  your  uncle,  but  that 
is  no  reason  why  I  should  be  a  relative  Be  off  with  you, 
and  let's  end  this  nonsense." 

"  My  uncle  would  not  have  spoken  to  me  in  that  man- 
ner," the  midshipman  said,  in  a  sorrowful  tone.  "  No  , 
you  are  no  uncle  of  mine." 

"  Then  what  in  the  fiend's  name  are  you  hanging  round 
us  for  ? "  roared  Crosstrees.  "  Top  your  boom,  and  be 
off.  Steer  a  straight  course,  and  don't  anchor  till  you 
have  found  the  harbor  of  Good  Sense.  And,  arter  you 
has  found  it,  don't  you  lift  your  mudhook  till  you  has 
taken  on  board  a  cargo  of  wit  and  wisdom." 

"  Captain,"  asked  Harry,  •'  did  you  ever  visit  that 
harbor  ?  " 

"  Well,  yes,  I  s'pose  I  has,"  was  the  response. 

"  Then  it  seems  to  me  that  you  didn't  take  on  board 
much  of  a  cargo,  to  judge  how  short  of  ballast  you  are  at 
the  present  time,"  retorted  Reefpoint,  with  a  look  that  he 
had  learned  on  the  quarter-deck  of  a  national  vessel,  while 
associating  with  men  who  were  apt  to  think  that  they 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  349 

were  the  head  and  centre  of  the  country,  and  that  the 
people  who  paid  them  for  their  services  should  be  treated 
like  some  of  their  sailors. 

"  By  St.  George,  but  the  boy  has  you  there,"  laughed 
Mr.  Blank,  who  was  too  pleased  with  the  lad  s  retort  to 
keep  silent  any  longer.  Pride  of  ^p.lationship  would  show 
itself  in  all  of  Mr.  Blank's  actions. 

Old  Crosstrees  uttered  an  angry  roar,  like  a  hungry  sea- 
lion,  and  then  seized  the  Boston  merchant's  arm,  and 
dragged  him  up  the  street,  leaving  Reefpoiut  standing  on 
the  sidewalk,  looking  after  them,  apparently  undecided  as 
to  what  course  he  should  take  to  solve  the  mystery.  For 
a  moment  the  lad  remained  watching  the  forms  of  the 
blockade-runners.  Then  he  sighed,  and  crossed  over  to 
where  I  was  concealed. 

"  Are  you  satisfied  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  quite  so." 

"  You  are  sure  that  the  man  is  your  uncle  Blank  ?  " 

In  an  instant  the  boy's  suspicions  were  aroused,  and  his 
natural  wit  appeared. 

"  Before  I  am  sure  on  such  a  point,  I  want  to  know  how 
the  information  is  to  be  applied." 

".  You  fear  that  I  might  injure  Mr.  Blank  ?  " 

"  I  trust  not." 

"  You  may  be  sure  of  it.  He  is  my  friend.  I  was  in 
his  employ  for  many  years.  He  always  treated  me  well, 
but  kept  me  at  a  distance." 

"  And  you  would  compel  him  to  lessen  that  distance?  " 
asked  the  lad  in  a  thoughtful  tone. 

"  Yes ;  in  one  respect  I  would." 

t;  Can  you  enlighten  me  a  little  more,  so  that  I  can.  find 
my  true  position  ?  " 

"  Yes.  Some  weeks  since,  you  promised  to  aid  me  in 
securing  the  hand  of  your  cousin  Hatty." 

"  I  remember  the  circumstance,  and  I  still  hold  to  the 
opinion  which  I  then  expressed." 


350  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  Thank  you.  Now  you  can  see  the  tie  which  I  wish 
to  form  between  your  uncle's  family  and  myself." 

"  Yes ;  but  still  you  will  allow  that  your  presence  in 
Charleston  is  as  suspicious  as  —  " 

"  Never  mind  me,  or  my  presence  here.  Stick  to  the 
subject.  Do  you  still  think  that  the  person  with  whom 
you  have  conversed  is  your  uncle  ?  " 

"  Well,"  answered  the  midshipman,  with  a  smile,  "  I'll 
tell  you  when  thp  proper  time  arrives.  At  the  present 
moment  I  am  not  prepared  to  answer.  If  I  did,  I  might 
endanger  the  lives  and  fortunes  of  those  who  are  innocent 
of  evil  intent." 

"  It  is  just  as  well,  Harry.  I  shall  never  call  upon 
you  to  bear  witness  against  those  whom  you  love.  I  know 
your  thoughts,  and  respect  them." 

The  lad  bowed,  and  then  we  walked  towards  the  Belle. 
We  went  on  board,  and  were  met  by  the  mate  at  the 
gangway. 

"  Here  are  two  men  I  have  shipped  for  the  return 
voyage,"  I  said.  "  See  that  they  are  quartered  with  the 
rest  of  the  crew." 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir.  Go  for'ard,  lads  ;  and  I'll  see  you  in  a 
little  while.  Two  gents  come  on  board  this  mornin',  sir, 
and  wanted  to  see  you  about  blockade-runnin',  I  reckon. 
They  look  as  if  they  was  honest.  By  George !  if  they 
ain't  comin'  down  the  dock  now ! " 

I  glanced  in  the  direction  indicated,  and  saw  that  Mr. 
Blank  and  Captain  Crosstrees  were  indeed  heading  towards 
the  steamer ;  and  I  debated  whether  I  should  meet  them 
or  sl'V.r*  them.  I  resolved  to  do  the  latter,  and  then 
thought  of  the  disguise  which  I  had  in  my  state-room. 
This  disguise  I  resolved  to  assume  for  the  time,  and  thus 
hold  a  free  conference  with  Mr.  Blank,  and  learn  his 
plans. 

"  Keep  those  gentlemen  on  deck  till  you  hear  me  strike 
the  cabin  bell ;  then  send  them  in  to  me- " 


RUNNING  THE    BLOCKADE.  351 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Where  is  Mr.  Bowmount  ?  " 

"  Gone  up-town,  sir.  Said  he  should  not  come  back 
till  near  night." 

This  was  just  what  I  desired  ,  so  into  the  cabin  I  went, 
and  in  a  few  moments  assumed  my  disguise,  then  struck 
the  .bell. 

The  door  opened,  and  in  walked  the  mate,  but  he  stopped 

suddenly  when  he  saw  such  a  strange-looking  being  in  the 

-jabin.     He  did  not  know  me  until  I  had  made  a  sign  for 

lim  to  express  no  surprise,  but  even  then  he  could  not 

Help  muttering, — 

"  Dowse  my  toplights  I  but  this  is  a  go,  and  no  mistake," 
and  then  the  red-faced,  broad-shouldered  Englishman 
pointed  to  the  two  visitors,  and  said, — 

"  These  gents  wants  to  see  yer,  cap'n.  Can  yer  hail 
'em  now,  or  shall  they  wait  ?  " 

"  O,  I  am  happy  to  see  the  gentlemen,"  I  answered,  in 
as  gruff  a  tone  as  I  could  assume.  "  Come  to  anchor,  and 
I'll  order  the  steward  to  bring  on  cigars  and  wine." 

"  Our  names,"  said  Mr.  Blank,  with  a  graceful  wave  of 
his  right  hand  towards  Captain  Crosstrees,  "  are  —  " 

"No  matter  about  the  names,"  I  cried,  in  a  hearty  tone, 
and  with  a  bang  of  my  fist  on  the  table.  "  As  long  as 
you  are  loyal  men,  I  don't  want  to  know  them.  You  are 
welcome  to  the  Belle." 

The  two  men  colored  a  little,  and  for  a  moment  appeared 
slightly  confused,  but  they  rallied,  and  then  Mr.  Blank, 
with  charming  frankness,  remarked,  — 

"  O,  you  can  put  trust  in  us,  Captain  Barnwell.  No 
more  loyal  men  in  the  South  can  be  found  than  ourselves, 
although  my  friend  here,  Captain  Cross,  is  a  Yankee." 

"And  you,  sir,  I  suppose,  wei  x*orn  in  the  South,"  1 
asked. 

"Yes,  sir  —  in  Virginia." 


352  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 

"It  is  singular,"  I  remarked,  in  a  musing  tone,  "bui 
your  face  seems  quite  familiar  to  me.  I  could  have  SWOIE 
that  I  had  met  you  in  Boston." 

"  It  is  quite  probable,  sir,"  was  Mr.  Blank's  reply,  with 
the  old  State  Street  look.  "  I  have  purchased  many- 
articles  in  Boston,  and  visited  the  city  several  times." 

"  Ah !  tlrm  I  must  have  seen  you  on  one  of  those  visits. 
A  pleasant  place  is  Boston." 

"  You  can  bet  high  on  that,"  Crosstrees  cried,  a  little 
too  enthusiastic  for  a  man  who  was  about  to  enter  the 
blockade  business  as  a  zealous  friend  of  the  South. 

By  this  time  the  wine  and  cigars  were  placed  on  the 
table  ;  and  after  a  drink,  and  a  puff  of  smoke,  AIA  Blank 
unfolded  his  business. 

"  We  are  about  to  engage  in  the  same  line  as  your- 
self," he  said,  "  and  we  want  a  little  light  &u  various 
matters  that  we  can't  get  except  from  those  vho  have 
had  experience." 

I  bowed,  and  listened. 

"  We  expect  to  meet  two  or  three  steamers  in  a  certain 
port,  and  we  want  to  learn  the  best  method  of  running 
them  into  some  Southern  place  of  refuge." 

"  The  best  plan  that  I  know  of  is  to  put  on  steam,  and 
get  past  the  blockade  as  soon  as  possible." 

"  Yes,  that  is  the  principal  way  ;  but  suppose  you  meet 
with  blockaders,  —  run  on  to  them,  in  fact  ?  " 

"  0,  then  haul  off,  and  make  the  best  of  it.  Get  out 
of  the  way  as  soon  as  possible,  and  try  again." 

They  did  not  appear  to  be  satisfied  with  my  explanation  j 
and  yet  I  really  had  no  other  to  give,  even  had  I  desired 
tc  serve  the  two  men. 

"  There  is  another  thing  that  you  must  avoid,"  I  con- 
tinued, after  a  moment's  silence.  "  You  will  find  at  ever; 
turn  secret  agents  of  the  United  States.  They  will  watc. 
your  movements,  and,  unless  you  are  sharp,  will  get  tb« 
best  of  you." 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  353 

I  spoke  in  my  natural  tone  just  then,  forgetting  that 
I  was  assuming  a  character.  Old  Crosstrees  glanced  at 
me  as  though  trying  to  recollect  where  he  had  heard  my 
voice,  and,  as  I  ceased  speaking,  he  dashed  his  fist  down 
on  the  table,  making  the  glassware  dance  a  merry  jig,  as 
he  said,  — 

"  I've  heard  yer  voice  afore,  dang  me  if  I  hain't." 

"  Well,"  I  replied,  "  if  you  have,  it  is  no  reason,  sir, 
you  should  break  my  tumblers  and  decanters  —  is  it?" 

"  I'll  pay  for  all  I  break,"  the  captain  said,  in  rather  a 
sulky  tone. 

"  That  is  not  the  question.  I  don't  want  you  to  break 
my  glass,  and  I  don't  want  your  money." 

"  Well,   yer  needn't  be   so  af eared  of  yer  property,' 
snarled  old  Crosstrees,  who  would  not  take  a  hint  from 
Mr.  Blank  to  keep  quiet,  and  have  no  idle  discussion. 

"  His  voice  seems  familiar  to  me  at  any  rate,"  growled 
the  captain. 

"  I  must  confess  that  in  this  respect  Captain  Cross  is 
right,"  remarked  Mr.  Blank,  in  his  quiet,  gentlemanly 
tone.  "  Captain  Barnwell's  voice  at  times  does  seem 
familiar ;  but  I  can  form  no  idea  where  I  have  heard  one 
like  it." 

"  I  know,"  growled  Crosstrees. 

"  Ah !  I  should  be  happy  to  hear  the  name  of  the 
individual  whom  I  resemble,  even  in  voice,"  I  remarked ; 
for  I  had  an  interest  in  continuing  the  conversation. 

"  It  was  that  young  chap,  Frank  Constant,  what  used  to 
command  a  ship  called  the  Laughing  Mermaid." 

Perhaps  the  reader  may  have  forgotten  that  Frank 
Constant  is  my  real  name,  and  that  Barnwell  was  one 
assumed  for  Southern  purposes.  At  any  rate  to  hear  it 
pronounced  in  the  cabin  of  the  Belle  just  at  that  time  was 
enough  to  startle  me,  so  I  filled  a  glass,  and  asked,  — 

"  Was  this  Constant  as  old  as  I  am?  " 


854  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

"  I  should  think  not,"  replied  Crosstrees,  in  a  tone  that 
savored  of  contempt  at  the  absurdity  of  the  question. 

"  He  was  a  young  man,  and  a  smart  man,  and  a  mighty 
good-lookin'  feller,  now  I  tell  yer.  He  was  as  promisin* 
a  cap'n  as  sailed  out  of  Boston  at  the  time  this  rebellion 
beginned,  wasn't  he  ? "  appealing  to  Mr.  Blank,  who 
smiled,  and  said  that  he  would  take  Crosstrees'  word  for 
it ;  and  then  drew  back  from  the  table,  and  announced 
his  intention  of  leaving,  having  obtained  .all  the  informa- 
tion he  could  make  available. 

Crosstrees  took  another  drink,  and  followed  his  exam- 
ple ;  and  then  both  of  them  went  on  deck,  looked  over 
the  steamer,  praised  her  build,  and  commented  on  her 
speed,  and  at  last  shook  hands  with  me,  and  left,  inciden- 
tally remarking  that  they  should  leave  immediately  for 
Wilmington,  where  a  blockade-runner  was  about  to  sail 
for  Bermuda,  and  a  market. 

As  the  two  men  walked  up  the  dock  I  saw  the  mid- 
shipman looking  after  them,  with  a  very  melancholy  ex- 
pression upon  his  face,  as  though  he  comprehended  the 
infamy  of  his  uncle,  and  felt  grieved  at  it.  I  returned 
to  the  cabin,  and  was  about  to  ring  for  the  steward  to 
clear  off  the  table,  when  I  saw  a  package  of  papers  lying 
on  the  deck.  I  picked  it  up,  and  saw  that  it  belonged  to 
Mr.  Blank,  for  his  name  was  on  the  back  of  several  notes 
that  I  looked  over. 

After  a  moment's  hesitation,  I  went  to  my  state-room, 
and  examined  the  papers  at  my  leisure.  To  me  they 
were  more  valuable  than  gold,  for  I  saw  they  were  con- 
tracts and  correspondence  between  Mr.  Blank  and  two 
members  of  the  rebel  cabinet,  stating  upon  what  terms 
they  would  assist  him  in  his  blockade-running  scheme, 
and  at  what  price  he  could  have  cotton  to  export. 

By  these  papers  I  learned  all  of  Mr.  Blank's  plans,  and 
the  plans  of  those  who  were  connected  with  him.  His 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  355 

own  house  was  involved,  and  so  were  two  New  York 
firms.  Their  plans  were  so  well  laid,  that  onljT  the 
utmost  vigilance  on  the  part  of  the  Federal  fleet  and 
Federal  officials  could  defeat  them. 

"  These  papers,"  I  thought,  "  are  worth  thousands  of 
dollars,  but  money  could  not  tempt  me  to  part  with  them. 
The  time  may  come  when  I  can  give  them  up  with  honor 
to  myself,  but  not  to  those  who  own  them." 

Just  at  this  moment  I  heard  some  one  enter  the  cabin 
with  considerable  haste.  I  suspected  who  it  was,  so  con- 
cealed the  papers  in  a  safe  that  stood  in  my  state-room. 
A  knock  at  the  door  caused  me  to  open  it.  I  saw  Mr. 
Blank,  with  a  face  that  expressed  some  apprehension, 
standing  before  me. 

"  Excuse  me  for  interrupting  you,"  he  said,  "  but  I 
have  returned  for  some  papers  which  I  have  dropped  from 
my  pocket.  I  did  not  know  but  what  I  might  have  lost 
them  in  the  cabin." 

"  You  had  better  look  round  and  see,"  I  returned,  in  as 
careless  a  tone  as  I  could  assume.  "  Perhaps  you  can  dis- 
cover them." 

Mr.  Blank  commenced  his  search,  but  didn't  find  what 
he  was  after.  He  looked  at  me  with  a  grave  and  troubled 
face,  as  he  said,  — 

"  You  don't  suppose  that  the  stewards  could  have  found 
the  papers  —  do  you  ?  " 

"  If  they  had,  they  would  have  handed  them  to  me," 
was  my  answer  ;  while  at  the  same  time  I  pitied  the  man, 
and  was  at  once  half  tempted  to  restore  the  papers  to 
him. 

"  If  you  should  hear  of  them,  I  wish  you  would  sea! 
them  up,  and  send  them  to  me  at  Bermuda." 

"Certainly;  or  perhaps  bring  them  to  you." 

"  Thank  you.  I  mavyet  find  them  before  I  leave  town. 
I  hope  I  shall,  for  they  ire  worth  to  me  more  than  to  any 
24 


356  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

one  elsa."  With  these  words  the  merchant  took  his 
departure,  and  I  supposed  that  I  should  have  a  moment  to 
myself ;  but  a  noise  on  deck  once  more  aroused  me. 

I  went  on  deck,  and  found  that  Bowmount  had  returned 
accompanied  by  a  stout  negro,  whom  I  had  no  difficulty  in 
recognizing  as  Sam,  the  coachman,  who  had  helped  entrap 
me  the  night  I  was  kidnapped  by  John. 

"  Do  you  recognize  this  imp  ? "  asked  the  Kentuck- 
ian ;  and  as  he  spoke  he  cut  the  negro's  legs  with  a  cow- 
hide, which  produced  a  rapid  movement  on  the  part  of 
Sam. 

"  O,  golly,  massa  !  don't  do  dat,"  yelled  the  coachman. 
"  Don't  you  know  dat  it  hurts  ?  O,  my  legs  !  Please 
don't  do  so  no  more,  massa." 

And  then  followed  several  blows  and  several  capers. 

4 '  Do  you  see  this  black  chap? "  asked  the  Kentuckian, 
suspending  work  for  a  moment,  to  talk  to  me. 

"  Yes,  I  see  him.     I  have  met  the  scamp  before." 

"And  so  has  I,"  and  here  came  in  another  cut  on  the 
darkey's  legs,  that  made  him  jump  and  howl  with  renewed 
energy. 

"  How  did  you  get  hold  of  him  ?  "  I  asked,  as  soon  as 
the  noise  had  subsided. 

"  Mrs.  Gowen  sent  him  to  you,"  was  the  careless 
answer.  Mrs.  Gowen  has  been  on  the  watch  for  the  black 
scamp  ever  since  he  served  you  such  a  trick.  This  after- 
noon he  was  took  while  I  was  at  the  house,  and  she  sent 
him  to  you,  and  says  you  may  do  what  you  like  with  him. 
If  you  takes  my  advice,  you  will  give  him  two  or  three 
dozen,  and  then  send  him  to  the  city  jail,  whar  they'll  give 
him  as  much  more." 

"  For  de  Lord's  sake,  don't  do  dat,"  cried  Sam.  "  Dis 
nig  is  almost  cut  to  pieces  now.  Him  legs  is  one  mess  of 
rings.' 

I  began  to  have  mercy  on  the  fellow,  although  he  did 


AN  EXPLANATION. -Page 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  857 

not  deserve  it  at  my  hands.  He  had  betrayed  and  robbed 
me,  insulted  me,  and  committed  such  crimes  that  a  jury 
of  white  men  would  have  condemned  him  to  death  on  a 
ten-minutes'  hearing.  But  Bowmount  had  used  a  cow- 
hide on  the  negro's  person  with  such  effect  that  I  thought 
he  had  been  sufficiently  punished  for  the  present,  at 
least. 

"  Sam,"  I  said,  "  you  have  treated  me  vilely." 

"  Yes,  massa." 

"  You  robbed  me  of  my  watch  and  revolver." 

"  Yes,  massa." 

"  I  want  them." 

"  Yes,  massa.  I  has  'em  for  yer.  I  intended  that  you 
should  hab  'em.  Do  you  dink  dat  dis  nigger  would  steal  ? 
I  took  'em  so  dat  de  udder  niggers  couldn't  get  hold  of 
'em.  Bad  niggers  round  Charleston.  Take  most  any- 
thing dat  dey  can  carry  off,  sar.  I  nebber  seed  sich  ones, 
in  all  my  experience." 

"You  is  as  bad  as  the  rest  of  them,"  growled  the 
Kentuckian,  and  then  crack  went  his  instrument  of  torture 
to  the  flesh,  and  once  more  the  negro  danced  and  howled, 
although  I  suspected  that  he  was  not  hurt  as  much  as  he 
pretended. 

"  If  you  will  only  stop  dat,  massa,"  yelled  Sam,  "  I'll 
gib  up  de  t'ings  at  once.  On  my  word  I  will.". 

Bowmount  suspended  his  barbarous  work,  and  then  Sam 
managed  to  produce,  in  some  mysterious  manner,  my  gold 
watch  and  silver-mounted  revolver.  The  latter  was 
empiy,  and  the  former  run  down,  all  the  darkey's  inge- 
nuity not  being  sufficient  to  wind  up  the  time-keeper. 

"  Una  don't  tick,  massa,"  he  said,  as  he  gave  up  the 
watch.  "  I  shake  'em  eber  so  much,  but  it  ain't  no  use. 
I  reckon  somethin'  de  matter  wid  it,  or  p'aps  it  worrf 
out." 

"  Now  go,"  I  said,  as  I  received  my  property  ;  and,  as 


358  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

the  fellow  left  the  vessel,  Bowmount  said  that  I  was  too 
soft-hearted,  and  it  was  no  wonder  the  niggers  got  sassy. 

"  What  induced  you  to  go  to  Mrs.  Gowen's  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  O,  merely  the  desire  of  talkin'  with  her  on  matters 
connected  with  her  passage.  Light  a  cigar,  and  come 
with  me,"  continued  Bowmount. 

"  Where  to  ?  " 

"  The  city  prison ;  to  see  that  old  scamp  of  a  Rhett, 
and  that  nigger,  John.  They  has  sent  for  us." 

Without  a  word,  I  took  his  arm,  and  up  the  dock  we 
went,  towards  the  prison. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

A  VISIT  TO  THE  CITY  PRISON.  —  OFFICER'S  OPINION  OF 
THE  WAR.  —  COLONEL  RHETT  AND  JOHN  THE  MULATTO. 
—  THEIR  RELEASE.  —  ESCAPE  OF  HARRY  AND  COM- 
PANION. —  SAILING  OF  THE  .BELLE.  —  A  DARK  NIGHT, 
AND  AN  ANXIOUS  ONE.  — RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. — 
A  MOMENT  OF  PERIL.  —  A  SHARP  PURSUIT.  —  MORE 
TREACHERY.  —  ARRIVAL  AT  BERMUDA.  —  DESPATCH- 
BAG  AND  ITS  CONTENTS.  —  OLD  ACQUAINTANCES. 

WALKING  to  the  prison,  I  learned  from  the  Kentuck- 
ian,  that  while  he  was  on  his  way  to  Mrs.  Gowen's  resi- 
dence, some  one  had  informed  him  that  Colonel  Rhett  and 
John  the  mulatto  desired  to  see  him  on  business  of  impor- 
tance, and  that  they  would  be  much  obliged  if  he  would 
bring  me  along,  as  they  wished  to  consult  me  on  their 
future  welfare ;  a  piece  of  information  that  surprised  me 
very  much,  for  after  their  treatment,  they  could  not  sup- 
pose that  I  had  much  love  for  them  or  their  plans. 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  35& 

"  We'll  go  and  see  'em,"  the  Kentuckian  said,  as  we 
strolled  along,  "  and  hear  what  they  has  to  say  for  them- 
selves. I  wouldn't  refuse  to  listen  to  a  nigger  unless  he 
was  sassy  ;  and  then  I  wouldn't  listen  to  him  long,  now 
do  you  think  I  would?  " 

I  thought  not. 

"  No  ;  dog  on  me  if  I  would.  And  yet  I  have  seen 
some  nigs  whose  word  I'd  sooner  take  than  some  white 
men's." 

As  became  a  true  son  of  South  Carolina,  I  curled  a  lip 
in  disdain  at  such  sentiments.  The  Kentuckian  saw  the 
sneer,  and  it  roused  him  to  express  an  opinion  that  could 
not  be  extorted  except  under  great  excitement. 

"  Look  'e  here,  Barnwell,"  Bowmount  said,  "  your 
state  allers  made  a  blamed  fool  of  itself  on  the  nigger 
question.  It  allers  went  mad  when  a  black  skin  was 
mentioned.  It  never  will  larn  sense,  I  believe.  Why, 
I've  seen  men  go  ravin'  mad  at  the  idea  of  giving  a  few 
slaves  their  freedom,  jist  as  though  it  would  hurt  a  state 
to  do  an  act  of  justice  of  that  kind.  Of  course,  I  ain't 
meanin'  you,  Barnwell.  You  is  a  feller  of  some  sense, 
and  I  think,  would  listen  to  reason  ;  but  some  folks  don't 
know  any  better  than  to  poke  their  heads  agin'  a  stone 
wall  when  they  might  jist  as  well  butt  a  feather  bed." 

"  Bah  !  "  I  replied,  "you  are  more  than  half  an  abo- 
litionist. You  had  ought  to  live  North,  up  among  the 
Yankees." 

"  And  a  dog-on  smart  one  I  should  have  been,  now  I 
tell  you,"  was  the  reply.  "  There's  wusser  people  than 
the  Yankees." 

To  this  I  made  no  reply,  for,  of  course,  I  did  not  wish 
to  lessen  my  people  in  the  estimation  of  so  radical  a  man 
as  Mr.  Bowmount,  who  formed  opinions,  and  then  stuck 
to  them  just  through  obstinacy,  and  the  more  you  talked 
to  him  the  vorse  he  became- 


860  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

The  Kentuckian,  finding  that  I  did  not  attempt  to  com- 
bat his  opinion,  after  waiting  a  moment  or  two  to  give  me 
a  chance,  uttered  a  significant  sniff,  and  said,  — 

"  You  don't  think  like  me,  dog  on  it." 

"  Well,"  I  answered,  with  a  laugh,  "you  don't  always 
think  like  me,  do  you  ?  " 

"No;  I  don't  want  to.  I  hate  the  poor  chap  what 
allers  agrees  with  me,  I  does.  I  likes  a  man  what  has  a 
opinion  of  his  own." 

By  this  time  we  had  arrived  near  the  jail,  where  politi- 
cal and  other  prisoners  were  confined.  A  guard  of  sol- 
diers were  lounging  near  the  door,  and  as  we  ran  towards 
them,  they  dropped  the  butts  of  their  muskets  to  the 
ground,  and  hailed  us  in  a  ship-shape  manner,  after  the 
style  of  marines,  who  understand  their  business. 

"  You  can't  pass,"  said  the  corporal,  "  without  an 
order." 

"  Order  be  hanged,"  replied  the  Kentuckian.  "  Send 
for  the  officer  of  the  guard.  If  he  knows  me,  in  we  go." 

The  officer  of  the  guard  was  sent  for.  He  proved  to 
have  been  one  of  the  party  when  the  haunted  house 
was  visited,  consequently  we  passed  in  at  once,  and 
found  ourselves  in  an  office  where  some  dozen  officers 
were  smoking,  and  reading  newspapers  ;  and  one  of  thorn, 
I  noticed  with  some  surprise  and  considerable  wonder, 
was  deeply  interested  in  a  copy  of  THE  AMERICAN  UNION, 
which  had  run  the  blockade,  and  was  now  affording 
amusement  to  a  good-looking  and  intelligent  member  of 
the  Confederacy. 

Most  of  those  who  were  smoking,  were  talking  over  the 
latest  news,  the  various  rumors,  and  matters  connected 
with  the  war.  All  looked  up  when  we  entered,  stared  at 
us  for  a  moment  in  wonderment,  and  then  resumed  con- 
versation just  as  though  we  had  not  been^present. 

"  I  tell  you  what  it  is,"  said  one  o£  the  <.  ificers,  who 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  361 

had  been  reading  the  Charleston  Mercury,  "  the  editor  of 
this  sheet  may  say  what  he  pleases,  but  I  tell  you  there 
are  Yankee  spies  in  our  midst.  I  know  it." 

"  Well,  how  do  you  know  it?  "  asked  a  captain,  whose 
eyes  had  not  been  removed  from  us  since  we  entered  the 
apartment. 

"  Why,  here  is  an  extract  from  a  Boston  paper,  and  it 
tells  just  where  our  batteries  are  located,  and  how  many 
guns  each  one  contains.  We  have  spies  in  our  midst,  and 
it  is  time  they  were  looked  after." 

I  don't  think  that  the  young  fellow  suspected  me,  al- 
though he  did  look  hard  at  me  while  speaking.  At  any 
rate,  I  met  his  gaze  without  flinching,  or  even  changing 
color,  for  I  had  learned  to  control  my  feelings  like  a  stoic. 

"  I  tell  you  what  I'd  do,"  continued  the  suspicious  offi- 
cer. "  I'd  keep  a  watch  on  that  nigger  and  white  man,  I 
would  ;  and  I'd  watch  all  persons  who  called  to  see  them. 
That  is  what  I  would  do  ;  and  I  tell  you,  if  there  were 
spies  in  Charleston,  I  would  soon  find  them,  and  deal  with 
them  in  a  manner  they  would  not  like." 

"My  name,"  said  the  Kentuckian,  "is  Bowmount." 

Every  one  looked  up,  astonished  at  the  announcement. 
Those  who  were  reading  newspapers,  paused  in  the  work. 

"  Well,  sir,  what  is  that  to  us  ?  "  asked  the  suspicious 
officer. 

"  Well,  I  don't  know  as  it  is  much,  but  I  want  to 
prevent  mistakes  in  this  way.  I  ain't  no  spy,  and  I  don't 
want  any  man  to  call  me  one." 

"  Well,  my  man,  I  haven't  called  you  one,  have  I  ?  " 

"No;  you  have  not.  But  as  me  and  my  friend  here 
called  to  see  that  white  njan  and  that  nigger  John,  I 
didn't  know  but  you  would  jump  on  us,  and  call  us  spies 
and  sich  like." 

"  Ah !  and  who  are  you,  if  I  am  allowed  to  ask  ?  "  de- 
manded the  officer,  with  a  wink  to  his  companions. 


862  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

"I  ain't  no  spy,  dog  on  me  if  I  am,  now,"  was  tha 
reply. 

"  Well,  who  are  you,  then  ?  No  man  should  come 
here  on  a  suspicious  errand  without  giving  an  account  of 
himself." 

"  My  name  is  Bowmount,  and  at  one  time  I  commanded 
the  Ninety-ninth  Kentucky  Cavalry  ;  but  arter  the  Fort 
Donelson  affair,  I  was  paroled,  and  ain't  gone  into  the 
service  since." 

"  It  is  easy  to  say  that  you  once  held  a  commission. 
Even  the  poor  chap  in  the  cell  says  that  he's  a  colonel,  but 
no  one  believes  him." 

"  I  shouldn't  advise  you,  young  man,  to  doubt  my  word 
unless  you  is  prepared  to  stick  to  it,"  remarked  the  Ken- 
tuckian,  in  a  peculiar  tone  that  preceded  an  outbreak  of 
the  most  violent  kind. 

"  Look  'e  here,"  said  the  officer,  who  had  visited 
the  haunted  house,  "  there's  no  use  quarrelling  about 
this  matter,  for  I  can  set  it  right  in  two  minutes.  Gen- 
eral Rampage  is  an  intimate  friend  of  Colonel  Bowmount's, 
and  some  of  our  fellows  served  in  the  same  regiment  with 
him." 

"  O  !  if  that  is  the  case,  of  course  I  am  satisfied,  and  I 
recall  all  offensive  expressions,"  and  the  young  fellow 
touched  his  cap,  and  lighted  a  fresh  cigar. 

As  soon  as  good  feeling  was  restored,  we  found  no  diffi- 
culty in  obtaining  permission  to  speak  with  Rhett  and 
John  the  mulatto. 

The  two  were  confined  in  a  cell  on  the  ground  floor, 
where  there  was  none  too  much  light.  There  was  no 
furniture  in  the  cell ;  but  ip  one  corner  was  a  pile  of 
straw,  on  which  the  men  slept. 

"  Well,  you  miserable  scamps,"  said  the  Kentuckian, 
"  how  does  you  feel  now  ?  Shucks  I  but  you  is  in  a 
pretty  fix,  and  no  mistake.  I  wouldn't  give  a  picayune 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  868 

for  yer  chances  of  life,  I  wouldn't.  If  yer  necks  ain't 
stretched,  it  won't  be  'cos  there  ain't  enough  hemp  raised 
in  Old  Kaintuck." 

"  O,  Mr.  Bowmount,"  said  the  soft-voiced  Rhett,  purr- 
ing like  a  contented  cat,  "  you  do  talk  so  funny  that  it  ia 
a  treat  to  hear  you." 

"  Shucks !  but  it  won't  be  a  treat  to  hear  you  when 
the  rope  is  goin'  round  yer  neck,  now  I  tell  yer." 

"  You  don't  mean  it,  Mr.  Bowmount,"  cried  the  Vir- 
ginian. "  If  I  thought  so  I  should  telegraph  to  Rich- 
mond without  delay,  and  let  the  authorities  hear  of  my 
situation.  I  should,  indeed." 

"  Then  you  had  better  do  it,  for  I  tell  yer  that  there 
ain'\  much  chance  for  yer  lives  unless  a  miracle  is  to  hap- 
pen ,  and  I'll  be  darned  if  I  believe  the  Lord  will  put 
himself  out  for  the  sake  of  obliging  a  vagabond  like  you, 
what  ^ad  rather  lie  than  tell  the  truth  most  any  time." 

"Yi  u  don't  mean  it?" 

"  B\  b  I  does  mean  it."    . 

"  Av  I  does  Captain  Barnwell  think  as  you  do?  " 

The  Virginian  caught  sight  of  me,  standing  in  the  rear 
of  Bov  aiount,  somewhat  in  the  dark,  so  made  motions  for 
me  to  <  ome  forward. 

"  Yo  i  don't  s'pose  that  Barnwell  cares,  does  you  ?  He 
ain't  I1  te  to  care  for  a  man  what  tried  to  hang  him. 
Shucks  I  I  shouldn't  think  he  would." 

"  It  jvas  only  in  the  way  of  a  joke,"  purred  Rhett. 
"  We  didn't  mean  anything  serious,  you  know.  Of  course 
we  should  have  let  him  go." 

"  You  know  better,"  John  the  mulatto  remarked,  speak- 
ing for  the  first  time.  "  We  intended  to  hang  him,  and 
I'm  only  sorry  that  we  did  not." 

"  Will  you  hush,  you  blamed  fool !  "  roared  the  colonel 
in  a  rage,  all  of  his  purring  gone  in  a  moment.  "  Curse 
you  !  if  you  don't  want  to  live,  I  do." 


864  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  The  nigger  is  some  on  truth,"  cried  Bowmount.  "  He 
knows  that  there  ain't  no  hope,  and  that  he  might  as  well 
come  out  flat-footed  as  to  sneak  behind  soft  words,  what 
no  one  believes  and  no  one  cares  for.  An  honest  confes- 
sion is  good  for  the  soul,  as  my  old  mother  used  to  say." 

John  here  stated  that  he  had  been  led  into  a  bad  mess 
by  the  colonel,  and  that  such  being  the  case,  he  was  de 
termined  not  to  suffer  alone  if  he  could  help  it. 

The  Kentuckian  laughed,  and  was  about  to  turn  away, 
when  it  suddenly  occurred  to  him  that  he  had  not  asked 
why  he  was  sent  for.  He  put  the  question  in  his  usual 
rough  style,  and  with  one  or  two  oaths. 

"  Because,"  answered  Rhett,  in  an  eager  tone,  "  I  know 
your  generosity ;  and  know  that  if  nroper  efforts  are 
made,  you'll  do  something  for  us.  We  must  all  help  each 
other  in  this  world,  and  with  such  a  cause  before  us.  A 
glorious  cause !  We  will  fight  for  it  until  these  aged 
bones  fall  to  pieces,  and  this  proud  flesh  drops." 

"  O,  shucks  !  what  blamed  gammon  that  is  !  "  cried  the 
Kentuckian  ;  and  as  he  spoke,  he  left  the  door  of  the  cell, 
and  went  back  to  the  room  where  the  officers  of  the  prison 
and  the  soldiers  were  lounging,  leaving  me  alone  to  talk 
with  the  two  men. 

"  Captain  Barnwell,"  whispered  Rhett  in  an  eager  tone, 
"  we  do  not  expect  much  of  that  man.  He  is  too  rough, 
you  know,  to  feel  the  finer  sensibilities  of  such  natures  as 
yours.  You  can  appreciate  our  condition.  You  can  for- 
give and  forget.  I  can  read  it  jn  your  eyes." 

"  Then  you  must  have  a  vision  like  an  owl's,"  I  said  ; 
"  for  it  is  so  dark  here  I  can  hardly  see  your  face." 

"Ha!  ha!  you  are  always  full  of  your  fun,"  laughed 
the  colonel.  "  My  daughter  said  that  you  was  the  pleas- 
ftntest  man  she  ever  met.  You  always  had  a  kind  word 
and  sweet  smile  for  every  one.  I  never  noticed  it  before 
to-day.  It  is  very  singular." 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  866 

"  It  is.  Didn't  you  notice  it  when  I  was  about  to  be 
hanged  through  your  means  ?  " 

"  O,  don't  allude  to  that  little  hit  of  fun,  for  I  can  call 
it  nothing  else." 

"  But  why  don't  you  appeal  to  the  Richmond  govern- 
ment, and  get  released  ?  "  I  asked,  after  a  moment's 
pause,  seeing  that  I  could  make  no  impression  on  the 
fellow. 

"  Because,  sir,  I  have  particular  reasons  for  the  course 
I  have  adopted.  They  are  secret  and  honorable." 

"  If  the  latter,  confide  them  to  me,  and  let  me  judge  if 
such  is  the  case." 

Colonel  Rhett  groaned,  and  thought  for  a  moment  be- 
fore he  replied ;  and  when  he  did  speak,  it  was  in  low  and 
feeling  tones. 

"  When  this  struggle  commenced,"  he  said,  "  I  was  a 
rich  man,  but  at  the  same  time,  the  most  imprudent  one 
that  you  ever  saw.  I  had  no  thought  of  to-morrow.  It 
was  all  to-day.  I  feasted  my  friends,  lent  my  money  to 
all  who  wanted  a  loan,  and  at  last  found  myself  really 
embarrassed.  A  few  importuning  creditors  have  since 
bored  me  on  every  occasion,  and  it  is  to  get  rid  of  them 
that  I  now  keep  secret  all  my  movements.  You  see  how 
I  trust  you." 

"  I  can  tell  how  much  you  trust  me  after  you  have  an- 
swered a  few  of  my  questions,"  I  remarked. 

"  Ask  me  a  hundred,  and  I'll  answer  them  with  that 
truthfulness  which  is  so  characteristic  of  the  Rhetts." 

"  Bah  !  "  I  said,  in  scornful  tones,  "you  can  tell  lies  as 
well  as  other  people.  Don't  disgust  me  with  more  exhi- 
bitions of  your  hypocrisy." 

"  O,  that  I  should  hear  such  words  applied  to  me,  and 
unable  to  call  you  to  account  for  them  I "  moaned  the 
colonel,  just  as  though  he  was  in  earnest. 

"  Stop  all  such  nonsense,  or  I'll  leave  you." 


8C6  RUNNING  THE   BLOCRADE. 

He  left  off  his  moaning,  and  immediately  became  at- 
tentive. 

"  Tell  me,"  I  continued,  "  why  you  should  fear  credi- 
tors when  you  are  in  the  military  service  of  the  Confed- 
eracy. You  know  very  well  that  military  law  is  superior 
to  civil  at  the  present  time." 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  to  those  who  desire  to  shirk  their  responsi- 
bilities. I  am  not  one  of  that  kind.  As  long  as  I  had 
money,  I  paid  as  I  went  along.  When  the  war  com- 
menced, and  I  found  that  there  was  no  sale  for  my 
tobacco,  I  paid  as  far  as  I  was  able,  and  trusted  to  luck 
for  the  balance." 

"  But  you  have  not  answered  my  question,"  I  said. 
"  Who  would  dare  to  prosecute  a  confederate  colonel  at 
the  present  time  ?  " 

"  Any  one  who  saw  that  the  colonel  was  not  disposed 
to  stand  on  the  order  of  his  rank.  My  creditors  knew 
that  I  had  some  money,  so  they  pressed  me.  I  was  sick, 
and  determined  to  leave  the  country  until  my  health  was 
restored.  By  so  doing,  I  knew  that  I  should  benefit  my- 
self and  daughter.  Poor  child  !  it  makes  my  heart  bleed 
when  I  think  of  her  and  her  desolation." 

He  pretended  to  wipe  away  a  tear,  but  I  don't  believe 
it  was  a  real  one,  for  I  think  that  he  was  well  aware  that 
his  daughter  could  take  care  of  herself  in  most  any  part 
of  the  world,  and  in  most  any  kind  of  society. 

"  Look  here,  Rhett,"  I  said,  "  I  don't  know  what  to 
make  of  you ;  and  for  the  life  of  me,  I  don't  understand 
whether  I  can  class  you  as  a  Yankee  spy,  or  a  true  friend 
of  the  South." 

The  colonel  uttered  a  sound  that  was  intended  as  a 
laugh,  but  it  seemed  almost  a  failure. 

"  Don't  think  hard  of  me,  captain,"  he  said,  in  a  tone 
of  supplication,  "just  because  I  allowed  myself  to  be  in 
the  company  of  those  negroes.  It  was  all  accident)  I 
assure  you." 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  867 

**  Is  that  the  truth,  John  ?  "  I  asked  the  sullen  mulatto, 
who  had  not  spoken  since  I  had  commenced  conversing 
with  the  colonel. 

"  I  don't  want  you  to  ask  me  a  word  about  that  man," 
John  replied.  "  He  don't  amount  to  much.  I  am  sick 
of  him  and  his  yarns.  I'll  answer  no  more  questions." 

"  That's  right,  John.  You  don't  understand  these 
great  matters  like  white  men.  We'll  learn  you  in  time." 

The  mulatto  uttered  a  roar  like  a  wild  beast  that  has 
been  wounded  by  an  unseen  hunter ;  but  after  that  he  re- 
mained silent  and  sullen. 

"  You  will  do  something  to  get  me  out  of  this  ?  "  whis- 
pered the  colonel.  "  I'm  mighty  uncomfortable  here. 
My  back  is  nearly  raw,  and  smarts  as  though  it  was 
pickled." 

"  I  can  promise  nothing  at  the  present  time,"  I  re- 
marked ;  "  but  in  the  course  of  the  day  I'll  see  you  once 
more,  and  let  you  know  what  action  I'll  take." 

"  For  God's  sake,  don't  desert  us.  Our  only  hope  is 
in  you,"  cried  the  colonel,  as  I  left  him." 

From  the  prison,  I  went  direct  to  the  telegraph  office, 
leaving  Bowmount  to  drink  whiskey  with  the  officers  in 
the  guard-room  ;  an  occupation  which  he  liked  so  well 
it  seemed  a  pity  to  disturb  him. 

I  telegraphed  to  Richmond,  to  the  secretary  of  war,  for 
information  respecting  Rhett.  In  the  course  of  the  day  a 
reply  came  to  me  that  Colonel  Rhett  was  absent  from  his 
regiment  on  sick-leave,  and  had  left  the  country  in  com- 
pany with  his  daughter. 

So  far,  the  story  which  Rhett  had  told  was  a  correct 
one.  I  was  a  little  staggered  as  I  read  the  despatch,  and 
could  only  account  for  the  man's  peculiarities 'on  the 
ground  that  he  hated  me,  because  I  had  kissed  his  daugh- 
ter, and  rather  snubbed  him  at  tunes,  while  we  were  at 
Nassau. 


368  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

But  the  man  had  been  punished  in  the  most  severe 
manner,  so  that  I  felt  avenged,  and  determined  to  do 
something  for  his  liberation.  I  took  the  despatch,  and 
went  to  General  Rampage,  and  laid  it  before  him. 

"Confusion  !"  he  muttered.  "Is  it  possible  that  we 
have  whipped  a  colonel  in  the  confederate  service  ?  If 
such  is  the  case,  we  can't  do  better  "than  to  set  him  at 
liberty,  and  get  him  to  hush  up  the  matter,  for  it  would 
cause  a  stir  if  it  was  known.  What  shall  I  do  ?  " 

"  Write  a  discharge  for  the  colonel  and  the  mulatto 
John.  I'll  undertake  that  they  keep  quiet  about  the 
affair,  for  their  own  sakes  as  well  as  yours." 

"I'll  do  it,"  answered  the  general,  and  immediately 
wrote  the  order  discharging  Rhett  and  John  from  prison. 

With  the  order,  I  hastened  to  the  place  of  confinement, 
confident  that  for  once  I  had  done  a  generous  deed. 

When  I  reached  the  prison  I  found  no  difficulty  in  gain- 
ing an  admission,  or  in  obtaining  an  interview  with  Rhett 
and  John.  Bowmount,  I  noticed,  was  still  in  the  guard- 
room, drinking  whiskey  as  though  for  a  wager,  and  spin- 
ning yarns  of  his  adventures  in  Tennessee  just  before  the 
Fort  Donelson  affair.  I  did  not  disturb  him,  but  passed 
on  to  the  cell  where  the  men  were  confined.  They  were 
astonished  to  see  me,  not  expecting  that  I  would  return  so 
soon,  if  at  all ;  for  the  rascals  knew  that  they  deserved  but 
little  gratitude  at  my  hands. 

"  This  is  kind  of  you,"  said  the  colonel,  as  he  came  to 
(he  grating  of  the  cell,  rubbing  his  hands,  and  looking  as 
amiable  as  possible.  *  "  I  didn't  expect  to  see  you  so  soon, 
—  indeed  I  did  not. 

"  One  word  of  advice,"  I  said,  earnestly.  "  In  a  few 
minutes  you  will  be  free.  I  don't  care  what  becomes  of 
you.  You  are  able  to  take  care  of  yourself ;  but  that  slave, 
John,  had  better  make  tracks  for  some  other  section  of  the 
country.  He  has  admitted  too  much  to  remain  here,  and 
live  in  safety." 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  369 

I  returned  to  the  ship,  and  the  next  morning  said  noth- 
ing to  Bowmount  about  what  I  had  done,  knowing  he 
would  blame  me  for  so  doing.  It  was  not  necessary  for  me 
to  allude  to  the  subject,  and  I  suppose  Bowmount  had  too 
much  to  think  of  to  remember  it. 

As  I  lighted  a  cigar,  and  went  on  deck,  the  mate  came 
aft,  his  face  showing  that  he  had  something  on  his  min'd. 

"  Them  men  what  come  on  board  yesterday  has  cut  for 
it,"  he  said. 

"  Are  you  sure  that  they  are  gone  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir ;  and,  blast  'em,  they  have  taken  a  boat  that 
was  fastened  to  the  dock.  It's  my  opinion  they  have  cut 
for  the  Yankee  fleet." 

"  Well,  say  nothing  about  it  at  present.  We  may  hear 
something  in  the  course  of  the  day.  They  couldn't  run 
the  gantlet  of  guard-boats  and  batteries." 

"  I  rather  think  they  could,  sir.  It  was  mighty  dark, 
last  night,  and  those  chaps  in  the  guard-boats  are  only  a 
lot  of  sojers  anyhow.  If  the  boat  drifted  out  with  the 
tide,  and  the  chaps  didn't  use  any  oars,  they  wouldn't 
have  been  noticed,  I  reckon." 

I  hoped  that  such  was  the  case  ;  for  Mr.  Reefpoint  car- 
ried such  weighty  information  to  the  Federal  admiral,  that 
the  safety  of  the  Union  fleet  depended  on  its  reaching  him 
without  delay.  If  Harry  and  his  companion  were  safe, 
then  I  could  feel  that  I  had  done  some  good.  If  they 
were  prisoners,  I  should  have  to  find  other  messengers  to 
convey  the  important  intelligence,  and  I  wondered  who  I 
could  hit  upon.  John,  the  mulatto  slave,  had*  declared 
that  he  was  an  enemy  of  the  rebels,  and  that  he  hated  all 
who  were  engaged  in  the  rebellion  ;  but  dared  I  to  put 
my  trust  in  him  ?  He  had  acknowledged  that  he  was  in 
communication  with  the  Yankees,  but  he  had  said  so  only 
when  he  thought  I  was  in  his  power,  and  that  I  should 
never  live  to  tell  of  it. 
25 


370  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

I  walked  the  quarter  deck,  smoking  my  cigar,  and 
thinking  the  matter  all  over,  and  at  last  came  to  fhe 
conclusion  that  I  could  not  confide  in  John.  He  had 
proved  himself  too  hostile  to  me  to  trust  him.  He  had 
shown  his  vindictive  spirit  in  more  ways  than  one ;  and 
as  long  as  he  suspected  that  Mrs.  Gowen  cared  for  me, 
just  so  long  should  I  incur  his  hatred,  and  just  so  long 
would  he  seek  revenge. 

I  was  interrupted  in  my  reverie  by  the  sound  of  heavy 
guns,  far  down  the  harbor.  I  looked  towards  Sumter 
through  a  glass,  and  saw  that  about  a  dozen  of  our  block- 
ading-fleet  were  hammering  away  at  the  fort  with  great 
vigor  and  determination,  just  as  though  a  serious  attempt 
at  reduction  was  being  made. 

"  More  niggers  reached  the  Yankees  last  night,"  a 
young  confederate  officer  said,  as  he  crossed  the  gang- 
way-plank, and  stepped  lightly  to  the  deck. 

"  Ah  !  how  do  you  know  that  ?  "  I  asked,  for  I  recog- 
nized the  young  fellow  as  belonging  to  General  Rampage's 
staff. 

"  For  the  simple  reason  that  every  time  a  deserter  or 
a  nigger  reaches  the  Yankee  fleet,  the  Yanks  feel  bound 
to  wake  up,  and  show  that  they  are  alive.  There  they 
go  ;  but  it's  all  a  waste  of  ball  and  powder.  Sumter  can 
stand  a  hundred  days'  bombardment,  and  still  feel  like 
fighting.  It  is  the  strongest  fort  in  the  world ;  for  the 
garrison  does  not  depend  upon  thick  brick  walls,  but  bags 
of  sand,  high  and  thick.  Well,  I  suppose  the  Yankees 
like  to  amuse  themselves,  but  it's  mighty  expensive 
fun." 

I  was  delighted  to  hear  the  young  fellow  talk  as  he  did, 
for  it  was  a  half  assurance  that  Harry  had  reached  the 
fleet  in  safety.  I  was  so  much  pleased  with  his  conversa- 
tion and  revelations,  that  I  asked  him  to  take  a  drink, 
and  smoke  a  cigar,  two  offers  which  were  not  refused. 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  871 

He  had  come  on  board  to  invite  Bowmount  and  myself 
to  a  dinner,  given  by  General  Rampage  ;  and  after  we  had 
accepted  the  invitation,  the  young  fellow  took  a  second 
drink  with  the  Kentuckian,  lighted  a  fresh  cigar,  and 
went  off,  humming  Dixie. 

That  afternoon,  I  dressed,  and  paid  a  visit  to  Mrs. 
Gowen,  who  had  sent  word  that  she  expected  me  I 
found  the  lady  looking  more  charming  than  ever,  and  she 
welcomed  me  with  such  genuine  expressions  of  pleasure, 
that  I  could  not  doubt  that  she  was  in  earnest.  .  .  . 

I  was  on  board  again  before  dark.  Bowmount  had 
missed  me,  but  he  did  not  ask  where  I  had  been. 

"  There's  a  man  what  wants  to  ship  with  us,  sir,"  the 
mate  said,  in  the  course  of  the  evening.  "  He  looks 
kinder  smart  like,  as  though  he  would  do  good  service. 
Better  see  him,  sir." 

The  mate  seemed  more  eager  than  I  ever  knew  him  to 
be  when  talking  of  one  of  the  crew  ;  but  at  the  time  I 
paid  no  attention  to  the  fact,  and  merely  said  that  I  would 
look  at  the  man,  and  that  he  might  be  shown  into  the 
cabin,  so  that  I  could  examine  him  by  candle-light.  In  a 
few  minutes  in  came  the  candidate  for  the  position  of 
Bailor.  I  looked  the  fellow  all  over,  and  it  struck  me  that 
I  had  seen  him  before  ;  but  where,  I  could  not  tell.  He 
seemed  about  thirty  years  of  age,  dark  features,  dark  eyes 
and  hair,  stout  and  active,  with  a  mouth  that  indicated 
great  determination,  and  some  considerable  courage. 

"  Well,  my  man,  do  you  want  to  ship  on  board  the 
Belle  ?  "  I  asked. 

u  Yes,  sir,"  was  the  prompt  answer,  with  a  touch  of  his 
cap,  in  regular  man-of-war  style. 

His  voice  sounded  familiar,  although  I  could  not  tell 
where  or  when.  I  gave  the  fellow  a  scrutinizing  look,  but 
he  did  not  flinch. 

"  Are  you  an  able  seaman  ?  "    I  asked. 


872  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 

"  Yes,  sir.  I  can  hand,  reef,  and  steer,  and,  if  nee.led, 
shovel  coals  into  the  furnace.  I'm  willing  to  make  my- 
self useful." 

"  Why  don't  you  join  the  iron-clads,  and  serve  the  Coi  - 
federacy  ?  " 

"  Because  the  iron-clads  won't  fight,  and  I  want  to 
make  money." 

"  Haven't  we  met  before  ?  " 

"  Not  that  I  knows  of,  sir." 

In  spite  of  the  denial,  I  could  not  help  thinking  that  I 
had  seen  the  man  on  board  of  some  vessel  I  had  com- 
manded ;  but  as  there  was  nothing  remarkable  in  such 
a  suspicion,  I  concluded  to  ship  the  man,  so  told  him  to 
bring  his  -chest  on  board  in  the  morning,  and  to  swing  his 
hammock  in  the  house. 

"Thank  you,  sir,"  was  the  reply.  "  You  don't  know 
what  a  favor  you  have  conferred  on  me."  And  with  a 
touch  of  his  cap  the  man,  left  the  cabin  :  but  as  he  turned 
from  me  I  thought  I  saw  a  dangerous  glitter  in  his  dark 
eyes,  as  if  he  would  like  to  express  his  triumph  in  words 
and  gestures,  yet  dared  not. 

"  Humph  !  "grunted  Bowmount,  who  had  been  smoking 
a  cigar  during  the  interview,  yet  had  not  uttered  a  word . 
"  do  yer  know  I  think  that  feller  is  a  sneak  ?  " 

"  What  makes  you  think  so  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  ;  but  I  has  that  impression.  That  man's 
face  don't  look  right ;  I  don't  like  the  glance  of  his  eye. 
I  ain't  got  much  of  what  you'd  call  college  larnin',  but  I 
tell  yer  I  can  read  humans  like  a  book.  If  that  fellow 
ain't  a  sneak,  then  I'm  no  Kentuckian,  that's  all." 

"  If  you  think  so,  I  will  not  take  him  on  board.  It  is 
not  too  late  to  change  our  resolution." 

"No,"  said  the  owner  of  the  steamer,  after  a  mo- 
ment's thought ;  "  let  him  come.  I  have  a  curiosity  to  see 
what  he  will  turn  out.  I  ain't  afeared  of  him.  Let  him 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  373 

come,  and  welcome.  I'm  a  match  for  him  if  he  turns  out 
vicious." 

So  the  next  day  the  new  hand  came  on  board,  and  com- 
menced his  labors.  The  mate  said  that  he  took  hold  with 
much  readiness,  and  that  he  was  a  smart  fellow,  and  knew 
his  duty ;  which  was  high  praise  for  the  first  officer  to 
utter ;  for  he  seldom  praised  any  one,  being  more  pleased 
to  swear  at  the  men  than  to  laud  them,  and  more  given 
to  knocking  them  down  than  to  setting  them  up. 

We  completed  our  cotton  loading,  stowing  on  board 
some  sixteen  hundred  bales  of  soft,  silk-like  Sea-Island, 
which  we  had  concluded  to  purchase  instead  of  common 
cotton,  thinking  that  the  profit  on  the  same  would  more 
than  recompense  us  for  the  trouble  of  waiting  a  few  days 
and  collecting  our  cargo. 

The  evening  before  we  sailed,  Mrs.  Gowen  came  on 
board,  attended  by  a  black  girl,  who  had  been  freed  some 
year  or  two  before  the  war,  so  that  in  case  she  desired  to 
run,  on  reaching  the  soil  which  does  not  tolerate  slavery, 
the  lady  would  not  be  a  sufferer  in  purse  or  in  feeling. 
Bowmount  uttered  a  growl  when  the  lady  came  on  board, 
and  took  up  her  quarters  in  one  of  the  best  state-rooms  in 
the  ship  ;  but  he  said  not  a  word  in  remonstrance,  for  he 
knew  that  it  would  be  useless,  as  far  as  I  was  concerned. 

She  had  made  up  her  mind  that  she  would  go  with  us, 
and  when  she  had  resolved  that  she  would,  she  was  not 
to  be  changed  in  her  fixed  determination. 

The  night  that  we  sailed  was  a  busy  one  to  all  on  board. 
We  had  kept  quiet  the  hour  of  our  departure,  for  fear 
the  news  would  be  carried  to  the  blockading-fleet,  and  an 
extra  lookout  stationed  to  discover  us.  Only  Bowmount 
and  m}'self  were  in  the  secret,  and  it  is  certain  that  we 
did  not  divulge  it.  Late  in  the  afternoon  about  a  dozen 
passengers  were  notified  Iliat  it  was  desirable  they  should 
be  on  board  at  sundown,  at  the  latest,  for  no  one  could 


374  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

tell  what  would  happen.  All  were  prompt,  and  among 
them  was  a  despatch-bearer  from  Richmond,  on  his  way 
to  England,  loaded  down  with  communications  from  Davis 
and  cabinet.  The  night  was  dark  and  squally,  with  show- 
ers of  rain,  which  fell  heavily,  and  at  times  shut  out  all 
the  lights  that  were  intended  to  guide  blockade-runners 
in  and  out  of  the  port.  Even  the  pilot,  whom  I  had  en- 
gaged to  take  the  ship  as  far  as  Sumter,  seemed  a  little 
inclined  to  shirk  the  job,  and  intimated  that  the  night 
was  not  such  a  one  as  he  should  have  chosen  for  the  work 
before  him. 

'*  Ye  see,"  he  said,  after  a  long  and  anxious  glance 
over  the  harbor,  "  the  tide  will  begin  to  ebb  at  ten 
o'clock,  and  it  will  run  like  a  sluice.  Since  the  blamed 
Yankees  sunk  their  old  ships  on  the  sands,  the  channel 
has  changed,  and  I  reckon  it's  mighty  onsartin  in  a  dark 
night,  taking  out  a  ship  that  draws  more'n  fifteen  feet  of 
water  aft." 

"Then  you  are  unwilling  to  run  the  risk?"  I  de- 
manded. 

"  I  didn't  say  that.  I  reckon  I'm  as  willin'  and  as  bold 
as  most  of  'em,  but  you  see  there's  risk  in  it.  I'll  do  the 
best  I  can,  but  if  I  touches,  don't  blame  me,  'cos  ye  see 
how  dark  the  night  is,  and  the  lights  ain't  much  for 
showin'  a  feller  where  the  deep  water  is." 

I  laid  the  matter  before  the  Kentuckian,  and  he  decided 
to  make  the  attempt  at  all  hazards  ;  for  he  was  impatient 
to  move.  The  night  was  favorable  for  avoiding  the  fleet, 
and  he  thought  we  could  do  it  if  we  only  exercised  cau- 
tion. A  little  after  ten  o'clock  the  engineer  reported  that 
a  full  head  of  steam  was  on,  and  that  the  engines  were  in 
perfect  running  order.  There  were  some  anxious  faces 
around  me  when  this  was  made  known,  for  on  our  success 
depended  freedom  or  Imprisonment,  Fort  Layfayette  or 
Bermuda  and  Nassau. 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  375 

"  Gentlemen,"  I  said,  as  the  passengers  gathered  around 
me,  "  the  risk  is  great,  and  the  danger  considerable.  Are 
you  willing  to  encounter  it?  " 

"  Yes,"  was  the  answer. 

"  Remember,  then,  to  keep  cool  and  calm,  and  remain 
in  the  cabin  without  lights,  or  else  on  deck  without 
talking." 

As  I  turned  to  go  on  deck,  I  saw  standing  at  the  cabin 
door,  where  he  could  have  overheard  all  that  was  uttered, 
the  strange  sailor,  whom  I  had  shipped  a  few  days  before. 

"  What  are  you  doing  here  ? "  I  demanded,  a  little 
sternly. 

He  pointed  to  a  carpet-bag  which  he  held  in  his  hand. 

"  The  mate  told  me  to  carry  this  into  the  cabin,  sir." 

"  And  how  long  have  you  been  standing  hero  listening 
to  what  was  said  ?  " 

"  Don't  know  what  you  mean,  sir  ;  'cos  I  has  no  object 
in  listening  sir." 

The  fellow  appeared  so  honest,  that  I  could  but  believe 
him. 

"  Drop  the  bag,"  I  said,  presently,  "  and  go  to  your 
duty." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

He  handed  the  carpet-bag  to  the  steward,  and  left  the 
cabin,  touching  his  hat  respectfully  as  he  did  so. 

"  It  is  singular,"  I  muttered  ;  "  but  I  can't  help  think- 
ing that  I've  seen  that  fellow's  face  before.  Where,  I 
can't  for  the  life  of  me  tell.  His  voice,  too,  seems 
familiar." 

But  in  the  hurry  and  confusion  of  leaving  the  dock,  I 
forgot  all  about  the  sailor  and  my  suspicions ;  for  I  had 
other  matters  demanding  my  attention.  We  dropped  into 
the  stream,  slowly  turned  the  steamer's  head,  and  com- 
menced moving  towards  Fort  Sumter,  a  light  on  the  bat- 
tlements of  Fort  Moultrie  being  our  only  guide  ;  a  slight 


376  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

warning  against  the  numerous  bars  and  other  dangers  of 
the  harbor.  The  pilot  took  his  station  on  the  wheel- 
house,  and  I  stood  beside  him. 

"It's  an  awful  dark  night,"  muttered  the  official; 
"and  I  wish  that  you  had  chosen  some  other  time  for 
starting.  How  the  deuse  I'm  to  get  ashore  on  Sumter,  in 
my  boat,  is  more  than  I  can  tell." 

I  did  not  inform  the  man  that  I  had  no  idea  of  stopping 
the  engines  for  any  such  purpose  in  case  there  was  a  clear 
field  before  us.  It  struck  me  that  Mr.  Pilot  would  go 
farther  than  he  anticipated ;  a  common  occurrence  with 
blockade-runners,  and  sometimes  a  very  profitable  one  for 
the  pilot. 

We  crawled  along  with  but  little  steam  on,  for  the  tide 
was  ebbing  fast,  and  carried  us  as  rapidly  as  we  desired, 
with  men  in  the  fore-chains  taking  soundings,  and  calling 
off  the  fathoms  of  water  by  feeling  of  the  knots,  instead 
of  using  a  light,  and  being  governed  by  the  color  of  the 
rags.  For  two  miles  we  met  with  no  reverse  of  any  kind, 
managing  to  keep  in  the  channel,  and  clear  of  the  shoals ; 
but  after  the  light  at  Fort  Pinckney  was  off  our  beam, 
the  difficulties  of  navigation  began  to  increase  in  a  very 
perplexing  manner.  The  first  warning  came  from  the 
man  in  the  starboard  chains. 

"  By  the  mark  three  ! "  he  cried,  in  a  low  tone,  yet  suffi- 
ciently loud  to  reach  our  ears. 

There  was  just  water  enough  to  show  that  we  were 
grazing  the  bottom,  with  not  an  inch  to  spare. 

"  Port,"  said  the  pilot;  and  then  he  muttered,  "  hang 
such  a  dark  night,  and  not  a  light-house  to  steer  by." 

We  edged  away  from  the  sand-bank,  and  once  more  got 
into  water  three  and  a  half  fathoms  deep.  Then  we  run 
along  half  a  mile  or  so,  when  the  man  in  the  larboard 
chains  shouted  out  a  warning. 

"  Quarter  less  three  !  "  he  said. 


RUNWING  THE   BLOCKADE.  377 

"  Stop  her  !  "  cried  the  pilot. 

The  engineer's  bell  conveyed  the  order.  But  it  was  too 
late  ;  we  were  on  a  sand-bank,  and  still  moving  slowly 
along  with  the  full  force  of  the  tide. 

Then  for  the  first  time  Mr.  Bowmount  spoke.  He  had 
been  on  the  wheel-house  from  the  time  we  left  the  dock, 
but  had  not  uttered  one  word  until  the  ship's  keel  touched 
the  bottom. 

"  Is  she  hard  and  fast  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  No  ;  for  we  are  still  moving  a  little,  as  far  as  I  can 
judge." 

"  How  far  are  we  from  Sumter  ?  "  the  Kentuckian  next 
demanded. 

"  A  mile  or  more,"  replied  the  pilot.  "  We  must  be 
under  its  guns." 

44  Then  we  are  safe  from  the  Yankees." 

"  Yes  ;  they  don't  dare  to  come  up  as  far  as  this." 

"  Barnwell,  what  does  you  recommend?"  demanded 
the  owner. 

"  Putting  on  the  whole  of  the  steam,  and  attempting  to 
work  over  the  shoal." 

"  And  you,  pilot  —  what  does  you  say  ?  " 

"  I  say  that  we  should  only  get  stuck  deeper.  As  it  is, 
we  must  remain  here  till  the  next  tide.  I  feared  it  all 
along." 

"  And  have  the  Yankees  discover  us,  and  pitch  into  us 
at  long  range.  No,  sir ;  I  don't  stand  that.  Barnwell, 
put  on  a-11  the  steam,  and  see  if  you  can't  jump  her  over 
the  shoal." 

"  I  wash  my  hands  of  the  whole  matter !  "  cried  the 
pilot. 

"  Wash,  and  be  hanged  !  "  was  the  blunt  reply.  "  Crowd 
on  the  steam,  and  let's  see  what  we  can  do." 

But  just  at  that  moment  the  engineer  opened  a  valve, 
and  commenced  blowing  off  steam,  making  a  noise  that 
could  be  heard  for  miles. 


378  RUNNING    THE    BLOCKADE. 

"  Jove  and  furies  !  what  is  the  man  about  ?  "  roared  the 
Kentuckian  and  the  pilot  with  one  voice. 

I  went  to  the  skylight  that  ventilated  the  engineer's 
room,  and  shouted  to  him  to  save  the  steam,  and  asked 
him  what  he  meant  by  opening  the  valve. 

"  Tell  him  to  come  on  deck,"  roared  the  Kentuckian. 
"  Up  here  with  him,  and  let's  understand  what  all  thi& 
means.  By  the  Lord  Harry,  I'll  see  if  we  have  traitors 
on  board.  Shucks !  but  the  man  what  tries  to  sell  me  to 
the  Yankees  dies,  or  I'm  a  nigger." 

The  engineer  came  on  deck,  surprised  and  indignant, 
leaving  one  of  his  assistants  in  cliarge,  who  had  orders  to 
reverse  his  engines,  and  put  on  all  the  steam  that  he  could 
raise,  and  see  if  we  could  not  back  the  steamer  from  her 
uncomfortable  position,  and  once  more  float  in  water  deep 
enough  to  keep  her  keel  from  the  ground. 

"  Well,  sir,"  roared  the  irate  Kentuckian,  "  what  in  the 
deuce  do  you  mean,  sir,  by  such  conduct?  "  and  here  he 
uttered  a  string  of  oaths  that  sounded  most  emphatic  as 
well  as  profane. 

"  Look  a-here,  Mr.  Bowmount,"  said  the  engineer,  in 
a  mild  but  firm  tone,  "  if  you  talk  to  me,  talk  as  one  man 
should  talk  to  another,  for  I'll  be  hanged  if  I  will  be 
swore  at  as  though  I  was  a  brute.  Now  understand  that 
at  once." 

With  all  thb  Kentuckian's  faults,  with  all  of  his  hasty 
temper  and  liberal  expenditure  of  oaths,  he  was  a  man 
who  respected  true  courage  wherever  he  found  it,  in 
enemy  or  friend  ;  so  I  was  not  surprised  to  note  that 
Bowmount  lowered  his  tone  considerably  when  he  again 
spoke  to  the  engineer. 

"  Mr.  Crankpin,"  he  said,  "  what  in  the  fiend's  name 
did  you  blow  off  steam  for  ?  That's  what  I  want  to 
know.  And  I  puts  the  question,  like  good  whiskey,  right 
square  afore  you ;  and  dog  on  me,  if  I  don't  want  an 
answer  as  quick  as  I  can  get  it,  and  no  mistake." 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  379 

"  I  let  off  steam,  sir,  because  I  was  ordered  to  do  so 
by  the  captain  ;  that's  why  I  did  it,"  was  the  confident 
answer. 

The  Kentuckian  fairly  yelled  his  astonishment,  as  he 
dashed  his  old  wide-awake  hat  on  the  deck,  and  stamped 
on  it,  and  then  deliberately  kicked  it  overboard. 

•'  Do  you  hear  him  ?  "  gasped  the  Keutuckian,  turning 
to  me.  "  Well,  dog  on  me,  if  this  ain't  a  leetle  the  great- 
est thing  that  I  ever  heard  in  all  my  born  days.  Why, 
hang  it,  man,  Captain  Barnwell  was  standin'  right 
alongside  of  me  jist  at  the  time  the  steam  began  to  blow 
off.  Now,  there." 

"But  he  sent  a  message  by  one  of  the  men,"  urged  the 
engineer. 

"  He  didn't  send  no  message.  He  ain't  spoke  to  no 
man  except  me  and  the  pilot  there ;  I  has  been  here  all 
the  time,  and  seed  all  that  has  taken  place.  You  didn't 
send  no  word  like  that,  did  you,  Barnwell  ?  " 

"No,"  I  replied,  watching  the  effect  of  the  struggle 
that  was  going  on  between  our  powerful  engines  and  the 
soft  sand  on  which  the  steamer  had  touched. 

"  Do  you  hear  that  ?  He  didn't  send  no  sich  message," 
roared  Bowmount.  "  I.  knowed  he  didn't." 

"  Then  some  one  has  played  me  false,"  said  the  engi- 
neer, in  a  tone  so  frank,  that  even  Bowmount  could  not 
help  believing  him. 

"  Go  find  the  man  what  brought  you  the  word.  If  wo 
has  traitors  on  board,  we  will  find  'em  to  make  examples 
of.  I  don't  stand  no  blamed  nonsense  when  a  fortune 
is  at  stake,  now  I  tell  yer.  I'd  hang  my  own  grandfather 
if  he  should  but  wink  in  a  suspicious  manner." 

I  saw  that  all  efforts  to  back  off  the  sand  were  useless. 
We  were  wasting  time,  for  the  tide  was  still  ebbing  quite 
rapidly,  and  every  moment  but  added  to  our  perplexities , 
consequently  I  said,  — 


380  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  Let  the  engineer  return  to  his  post,  for  we  need  hia 
services  more  than  ever  just  at  this  time.  I  am  satisfied 
that  he  is  no  traitor,  but  an  honest  man." 

"  Thank  you,  Captain  Barnwell,  you  but  do  me  justice. 
I  am  as  true  as  steel,"  replied  the  engineer,  in  a  gratified 
tone. 

"  All  right.  So  back  to  your  post,  as  Barnwell  says. 
P'int  out  the  feller  what  told  yer  arter  we  is  out  of  this 
scrape,  if  we  ever  does  get  out  of  it." 

As  the  engineer  turned  away,  I  said  to  him,  — 

"  Put  on  all  steam,  and  go  ahead  ;  I  will  see  if  we  can't 
lift  her  over  the  bar.  It  is  our  only  hope." 

"  I'll  do  my  part,"  was  the  reply  ;  and  the  instant  he 
entered  the  engine-room  he  kept  his  word,  and  had  the 
elements  to  help  him,  and  the  rest  of  us,  just  as  he  had 
started  the  engines,  and  was  letting  on  steam  to  send  the 
vessel  ahead. 

The  wind,  which  had  blown  off  shore,  suddenly  chopped 
round,  and  struck  us  on  the  bow,  dead  ahead. 

At  first  this  might  seem  a  misfortune,  but  we  did  not 
so  regard  it,  for  with  the  wind  came  quite  a  heavy  swell, 
long  at  times,  and  then  sharp  and  choppy,  showing  that 
the  elements  were  at  war  outside.  The  waves  raised  the 
steamer,  and  dropped  her  on  the  sand,  but  so  softly  that 
no  injury  was  done  ;  not  a  seam  was  opened,  not  a  bolt 
displaced. 

Little  at  a  time  steam  was  let  on,  and  then  the  pressure 
began  to  tell.  The  huge  wheels  revolved  so  rapidly  that 
they  beat  the  water  as  if  punishing  it  for  its  misdeeds ; 
the  hull  groaned,  and  creaked,  and  rolled,  and  pitched, 
while  at  the  san:  time  heavy  squalls  of  rain  were  dashed 
on  the  deck,  and.  m  our  faces,  almost  blinding  us  for  the 
moment,  but  still  not  driving  us  from  our  posts. 

The  men  who  were  in  the  chains,  taking  soundings, 
reported  every  few  seconds.  With  their  heavy  leads 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  88l 

resting  on  the  sand,  they  could  tell  if  the  ship  moved 
ahead  or  astern. 

"  Does  she  forge  ahead  ?  "  I  asked  every  second,  and 
still  the  answer  came  back  that  she  did  not  move  an  inch 
in  the  right  direction. 

But  still  the  wheels  continued  to  reyolve,  and  the  ship 
to  groan  and  roll ;  and  just  as  I  had  given  up  all  hope  of 
once  more  getting  afloat,  a  huge  swell  came  tumbling  in 
from  the  sea,  striking  on  our  bow,  and  instead  of  going 
over  us,  and  sweeping  the  deck,  passed  under  us,  lifting 
the  steamer  from  its  bed  of  quicksand,  and  for  a  moment 
allowed  the  paddles  to  be  of  some  service  in  moving 
ahead. 

But  that  moment  saved  us,  for  the  vessel  seemed  to 
have  gathered  strength  for  a  spring,  like  a  well-trained 
hunter,  and  when  the  waves  passed,  and  the  keel  once 
more  touched  the  bottom,  we  moved  over  the  shoal,  slowly 
but  surely,  as  the  men  in  the  chains  informed  us. 

It  was  hard  work,  for  the  quicksands  were  as  tenacious 
as  pitch,  and  stuck  to  us  like  it ;  but  the  power  of  our 
engines  and  the  aid  of  the  heavy  swell  did  wonders, 
so  that  we  soon  had  ten  inches  of  water  under  our  keel, 
and  were  moving  along  past  Fort  Sumter  at  the  rate 
of  eight  knots .  per  hour,  all  hands  on  the  lookout  for  a 
stray  but  vigilant  member  of  the  Federal  fleet. 

"  You  did  that  well.  Dog  on  me,  ef  I  ever  seed  any- 
thing like  it,  old  feller,"  said  Bowmount,  speaking  for 
the  first  time  since  we  had  been  afloat.  "  Here ;  take 
some  whiskey,  old  Bourbon,  and  drink  to  our  future  good 
luck." 

I  really  needed  the  stimulant,  for  I  was  wet  and  cold, 
in  spite  of  my  rubber  boots  and  coat.  The  liquor  was 
therefore  acceptable.  I  took  a  drink,  and  passed  the  bot- 
tle to  the  pilot.  That  worthy  gentleman  threw  back  his 
head,  and  the  fluid  gurgled  down  his  throat,  and  contin- 
ued to  do  so  until  I  thought  he  would  strangle. 


882  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

But  no  such  misfortune  happened  to  him.  He  removed 
the  bottle  from  his  mouth,  and  after  a  long-drawn  sigh, 
asked,  — 

"  Is  there  much  of  that  'ere  kind  of  stuff  round  here  ?  " 

"  Two  or  three  barrels  full,"  returned  the  Kentuckian. 
"  You  wouldn't  have  a  man  go  to  sea  short  of  provisions, 
would  you?  " 

"  No  ;  but  two  or  three  barrels  ain't  much  for  a  crowd 
what  is  on  their  drink,  now  is  it  ?  "  asked  the  pilot,  in  an 
argumentative  tone. 

"  No  ;  but  the  passage  will  be  short." 

"  There's  somethin'  in  that,  sir,"  and  then,  after  a  mo- 
ment's consideration,  the  pilot  continued,  "It's  too 
rough  to  land  at  Sumter,  and  I  should  capsize  if  I  at- 
tempted to  beach  my  boat  under  the  walls  of  Fort  Moul- 
trie.  I  don't  know  what  to  do." 

"  Go  with  us,"  I  said.  "  You  are  safer  here  than  in 
your  boat." 

"  And  you  shall  have  an  allowance  of  a  quart  of  whis- 
key per  day,"  suggested  the  owner ;  thus  touching  the 
man's  heart. 

"  Count  me  in,"  he  said  ;  and  just  as  he  had  announced 
his  readiness  to  accompany  us,  almost  directly  in  our 
course  a  blue  light  was  revealed,  exposing  the  frowning 
broadside  of  a  blockading  steamer. 

For  fifteen  seconds  it  threw  its  ghastly  pale  and  weird 
light  over  the  water,  then  died  out,  the  darkness  seeming 
ten  times  more  dense  than  ever. 

'•  Hang  'em,  they  is  on  the  watch,"  muttered  the  Ken- 
tuckiau,  who  stood  at  my  elbow. 

"  The  fleet  heard  the  noise  of  escaping  steam,"  I  re- 
marked, "and  the  ships  have  moved  to  prevent  our 
escape.  Ha  !  there  goes  a  second  light,  and  on  board  of 
another  vessel.  The  Yankees  are  wide  awake,  and  no 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  383 

As  the  light  died  out,  three  or  four  red-white-and-blue 
rockets  flew  into  the  air,  from  various  directions,  and  I 
knew  that  they  meant,  as  plain  as  words  could  tell,  "  Our 
ships  are  in  position,  and  the  enemy  is  in  sight." 

"  Shall  we  'bout  ship  ?  "  asked  the  pilot.  "  There  is 
time  enough  for  us  to  run  under  the  lee  of  Sumter,  and  so 
escape." 

I  turned  to  Bowmount  for  an  answer,  for  he  was  the 
man  most  interested,  and  while  waiting  for  a  reply, 
touched  the  engineer's  bell  to  signalize  slower  speed  of 
the  engines. 

The  owner  did  not  reply  immediately  to  the  question. 
He  seemed  to  be  turning  it  over  in  his  mind,  and  calcu- 
lating the  chances  for  escape ;  for  he  was  not  one  to  turn 
back  unless  there  was  cause.  At  length  he  spoke. 

"  What  does  you  think  of  it,  Barnwell  ?  Is  there  any 
hope  for  us  ?  Can  we  break  through  the  lines,  and  show 
'em  our  heels  ?  " 

"  If  we  were  once  through  the  line,  we  could  out- 
steam  the  best  boat  on  the  coast,"  I  answered,  in  a  non- 
committal style. 

"  I  know  that,  but  it  ain't  the  question.  Can  we  get 
through,  and  not  carry  off  shots  between  wind  and 
water?" 

"  If  you  say  go  on,  I'll  do  the  best  I  can.  The  night 
is  dark,  and  that  is  favorable  for  us.  We  may  have  the 
luck  to  slip  by." 

An  exclamation  of  surprise  from  the  pilot  attracted  my 
attention.  I  turned,  and  saw,  soaring  heavenward,  direct 
from  the  bow  of  the  Belle,  a  red  rocket,  which  burst, 
and  sent  down  upon  the  dark  waters  a  thousand  bright 
stars. 

"  We  have  blamed  traitors  on  board,"  yelled  the  Ken- 
tuckian,  and  leaving  the  bridge,  jumped  to  the  spar- 
deck,  and  started  forward,  bowie-knife  in  hand,  de 


884  RUNNING    THE    BLOCKADE. 

termined  to  kill  or  maim  the  person  who  had  sent  up 
the  signal,  and  thus  gave  the  Federal  fleet  our  exact 
position. 

"  Shall  we  go  on  ?  "  asked  the  pilot,  as  soon  as  he  found 
that  we  were  alone. 

I  was  just  about  to  order  the  engineer  to  reverse  his 
engines,  and  back  towards  Fort  Sumter,  when  a  black 
mass  suddenly  appeared  alongside,  and  then  I  knew  that 
it  was  too  late.  We  were  under  the  guns  of  a  Federal 
gunboat,  and  would  be  blown  out  of  the  water  if  we  but 
made  a  motion  to  escape.  Nothing  but  coolness  and  im- 
pudence could  save  us  now. 

The  pilot  saw  the  apparition,  and  commenced  drinking 
all  the  whiskey  he  had  in  his  flask.  In  a  few  minutes 
he  was  in  a  state  of  blind  drunkenness,  and  didn't  know 
the  points  of  the  compass,  or  Fort  Sumter  from  a  brick- 
bat. 

In  a  moment,  fore  and  aft,  there  was  such  stillness 
came  over  the  vessel,  that  any  one  could  have  told  that 
great  danger  was  at  hand.  Even.  Bqwmount,  whose  loud 
swearing  I  had  heard  but  a  moment  before,  suspended  his 
hard  words,  and  seemed  to  have  sheathed  his  knife,  and 
awaited  the  development  of  events,  with  a  patience  that 
most  all  rash  men  can  assume  under  certain  circumstances. 

"  Is  that  you,  Hubbard,"  asked  the  commanding  officer 
of  the  dark  frowning  mass  that  was  ranging  alongside. 

The  officer  had  made  a  mistake,  owing  to  the  darkness. 
A  thought  entered  my  head  that  there  was  yet  hope  for 
us.  Mr.  Midshipman  Reefpoint  had  mentioned  the  name 
of  Commander  Hubbard  of  the  Highflyer,  a  steamer  that 
carried  ten  guns,  and  two  hundred  men ;  and  it  struck  me 
I  had  met  some  one  who  supposed  that  he  was  alongside 
of  Hubbard's  ship,  the  dark  hull  of  the  Belle  favoring  the 
deception. 

I  did  not  for  a  moment  hesitate  as  I  replied,  — 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  385 

"  Yes,  this  is  what  is  left  of  me,  but  I'm  almost  washed 
away  by  the  rain  and  sea,"  and  then,  thinking  that  I 
would  first  cry  "  thief,"  added,  — 

"  I  wish  that  blockade-runners  were  to  the  deuce  rous- 
ing a  man  out  on  such  a  night  as  this  on  a  wild-goose 
hunt.  If  one  started,  he  turned  back  as  soon  as  he  saw 
our  blue  light." 

"  I  guess  that's  so  ;  but  what  the  deuse  did  you  throw 
up  that  rocket  for  just  now  ?  You  know  that  it  is  not  the 
right  signal,  don't  you  ?  "  asked  Commander  Hubbard,  in 
all  honesty. 

"  Of  course  I  do,  but  the  gunner  made  a  mistake,  and 
let  it  pass,  supposing  that  every  one  would  understand  it. 
It  was  intended  to  let  the  admiral  know  that  I  could  see 
nothing  as  far  as  I  had  gone." 

"  How  far  did  you  run  in,  sir  ?  " 

"  Close  to  Sumter  ;  but  I  did  not  dare  to  show  a  glim, 
for  fear  the  active  gentlemen  who  man  the  fort  would 
salute  me  with  a  few  of  their  heavy  shells.  They  are 
capable  of  it,  at  any  time." 

"  I  believe  you ;  for  I  notice  that  they  have  grown 
spiteful  lately.  I  should  like  to  have  a  hack  at  them, 
although  it  would  be  of  no  use.  Wooden  walls  won't 
stand  against  stone  and  sand,  and  the  rebels  know  it." 

"It  is  true,  but  at  the  same  time  I  should  like  to 
stir  —  " 

I  had  proceeded  so  far,  when  some  one,  who,  I  could 
not  tell,  put  his  head  through  a  port  hole,  or  looked  over 
the  rail,  and  yelled  out  in  a  loud  tone,  — 

"  Treason !  Treachery !  A  blockade-runner.  Fire  on 
us." 

My  heart  jumped  into  my  mouth,  and  I  thought  I  was 

done  for ;  but  still  did  not  lose  my  presence  of  mind.     ] 

knew  the  cries  would  startle  Commander  Hubbard,  and 

that  he  would  hasten  to  ask  some  awkward  questions,  but 

26 


386  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

I  determined  to  forestall  him,  as  the  only  method  of  ban 
ishing  his  suspicions. 

"  Take  that  man  back  to  the  sick-bay,"  I  said,  in  a  tone 
that  would  reach  the  quarter  deck  of  the  other  steamer, 
"  and  tell  the  surgeon  to  put  a  guard  over  him  as  long  as 
he  is  out  of  his  head." 

I  dreaded  that  the  traitor  whom  we  had  on  board 
would  once  more  proclaim  our  character,  but  he  did  not, 
for  the  reason  that  all  our  crew  and  passengers,  armed 
with  heavers,  handspikes,  knives,  and  revolvers,  were 
rushing  around  the  decks,  poking  blades  into  dark  cor- 
ners, and  looking  sharp  for  the  scoundrel  who  had  at- 
tempted to  betray  us.  If  he  had  been  caught  in  the  act 
of  giving  an  alarm,  certain  and  speedy  death  would  have 
been  his  portion.  The  crew  and  passengers  would  not 
have  waited  for  the  formalities  of  a  trial.  They  would 
have  taken  the  law  into  their  own  hands,  and  despatched 
their  victim  without  a  pang  of  remorse. 

"  What  is  the  matter  ?  "  asked  the  commander  of  the 
Federal  steamer,  in  a  tone  a  little  sterner  than  the  one 
he  had  before  used;  for  it  was  a  grave  breach  of  dis- 
cipline for  one  of  the  crew  to  utter  even  a  whisper  when 
two  captains  were  carrying  on  a  conversation. 

"  One  of  my  poor  fellows  was  sun-struck  a  few  days 
since,  and  owing  to  carelessness,  escaped  from  the  sick- 
bay. I  hope  that  he  will  get  over  it  in  a  short  time  ;  but 
it  is  a  tough  case.  All  owing  to  this  confounded  cli- 
mate." 

"  Too  true.  Hope  he  will  recover.  But  where  is  the 
blockade-runner  ?  " 

"  Gone  back  to  Charleston,  I  guess.  He'd  be  a  fool  to 
attempt  to  run  out  such  a  night  as  this." 

"  So  I  think.  Good  by.  Come  and  dine  with  me  to- 
morrow." 

"  I  will ;  and  now  I  must  run  down  and  report  to  the 


RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE.  387 

admiral."  And  with  these  parting  words  I  touched  the 
bell  that  notified  the  engineer  a  little  more  steam  was 
wanted. 

We  edged  away,  and  soon  lost  sight  of  the  gunboat,  the 
captain  of  which  did  not  receive  his  expected  guest  the 
next  day ;  and  when  he  charged  Commander  Hubbard 
with  neglect,  the  latter  repudiated  the  charge  in  emphatic 
terms,  and  by  comparing  notes,  they  came  to  the  joint 
conclusion  that  some  rebel  blockade-runner  had  performed 
a  most  prodigious  game  of  humbugging  which  would  not 
be  best  to  try  on  the  second  time. 

Mr.  Reefpoint  afterwards  told  me  that  the  whole  mat- 
ter'was  talked  over  in  the  fleet  for  a  week ;  and  that  the 
admiral  swore  like  a  seventeenth-century  pirate  at  the 
carelessness  in  not  trying  the  Belle  with  secret  signals,  the 
only  sure  method  to  bring  out  the  truth  when  meeting 
a  strange  vessel  on  a  dark  night. 

To  some  of  the  gallant  sailors  who  served  on  the  South- 
ern station  at  the  time  of  which  I  write,  these  few  facts 
will  prove  interesting,  and  explain  some  points  which 
were  rather  clouded  with  darkness.  At  any  rate,  if  they 
read  this,  let  us  hope  they  will  not  bear  any  malice  for 
the  little  trick  which  circumstances  over  which  I  had  no 
control  compelled  me  to  perform. 

As  soon  as  we  had  lost  sight  of  the  gunboat,  and  had 
passed  the  outer  circle  of  the  blockading  fleet,  the  Ken- 
tuckian  came  to  me,  wet  as  I  was,  and  took  me  in  his 
arms,  and  wanted  to  kiss  me ;  but  that  I  objected  to  in 
decided  terms,  for  I  remembered  that  in  Boston  were  a 
softer  and  sweeter  pair  of  lips,  which  I  preferred  to  those 
of  the  owner. 

"  Barn  well,"  cried  the  enthusiastic  Kentuckian,  "  you 
are  a  trump,  and  no  mistake.  To  you  I  owe  my  ship  and 
cargo.  No  other  man  but  you,  dog  on  me,  could  have 
took  us  through  that  scrape,  now  I  know'.  Shucks  !  how 


888  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

I  loves  a  noble-hearted  man,  what  comes  up  to  my  expecta- 
tions !  Here,  drink ;  and  let  me  swear  to  you  universal 
friendship,  that  shall  last  forever  and  ever.  Amen. 

"  Barn  well,"  continued  the  owner,  "is  there  more  dan- 
gers ?  Can  a  feller  yell  just  as  much  as  he  pleases,  and  not 
run  no  risk  of  waking  up  the  Yankee  fleet?  " 

"  Shout  as  much  as  you  please,"  I  answered.  "No  one 
can  hear  you  in  this  breeze,  or  if  you  are  heard,  it  won't 
make  much  difference.  It  will  not  be  noticed." 

The  Kentuckian  commenced  a  mad  dance,  and  then 
made  a  second  rush  for  the  purpose  of  embracing  me  ; 
but  this  encounter  I  declined,  to  the  intense  amusement 
of  the  passengers,  who  had  recovered  from  their  fright, 
and  renewed  their  good-nature,  although  I  did  not  feel  like 
rejoicing  with  them  at  the  cheat  which  had  been  imposed 
upon  the  Yankees. 

"  Blast  it,  old  feller,  let  me  show  my  gratitude  in  some 
way  !  Let  me  do  somethin'  to  prove  that  I'm  gratefulfor 
savin'  ship  and  cargo.  Egad  !  how  the  Yankees  would 
have  chuckled  over  the  long  and  silky  Sea  Island  what  we 
has  on  board,  and  is  worth  most  a  dollar  and  a  half  of  any 
man's  money  !  Whoop  !  let's  begin.  Whiskey  for  all  of 
us,  you  stewards.  Set  it  out  on  the  table,  in  the  cabin, 
and  give  us  a  cold  bite.  Pipe  all  hands  to  liquor,  and  let 
'em  splice  the  after  downhaul,  or  whatever  you  call  it. 
Hoop!  wake  snakes,  and  let's  liquor." 

The  owner  and  passengers  rushed  to  the  cabin,  and 
once  more  left  me  in  possession  of  the  quarter-deck.  I 
wanted  to  be  alone,  to  think  over  what  had  passed,  and  to 
wonder  who  had  managed  to  get  on  board  with  the  firm 
determination  of  betraying  the  vessel  into  the  hands  of 
the  Federals ;  something  that  I  should  have  rejoiced  at, 
under  other  circumstances,  although  I  had  too  much  at 
stake  to  care  about  meeting  my  Union  friends  just  at  that 
time.  While  I  was  looking  astern,  to  see  if  there  was  any 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

evidence  of  commotion  in  the  fleet,  I  saw  a  flash,  and 
then  the  report  of  a  heavy  gun,  while  at  the  same  time  a 
flight  of  rockets  darted  into  the  air,  and  burst,  showering 
down  green  and  red  stars  in  profusion. 

"  They  have  waked  up  to  the  fact  that  you  have  escaped," 
some  one  said,  close  to  my  elbow  ;  and,  turning,  I  saw  the 
man  who  had  come  on  board  with  despatches  from  the 
Richmond  government,  and  with  which  he  was  to  make 
the  best  of  his  way  to  Europe,  while  I  had  resolved  that 
if  the  fellow  did  visit  the  continent  he  should  go  empty- 
handed  ;  for  the  despatches  I  was  determined  to  have, 
even  if  I  had  to  resort  to  a  little  violence  for  the  sake 
of  obtaining  them. 

"Yes,"  continued  the  despatch-bearer,  "  the  Yankees 
have  discovered  that  their  prize  has  slipped  through  their 
hands.  There  will  be  a  deuce  of  a  commotion  to-morrow 
morning,  and  some  of  the  commanders  will  get  a  wiging." 

"I  shouldn't  be  surprised  if  such  was  the  case,"  I 
answered. 

"  We  slipped  through  much  better  than  I  anticipated," 
continued  the  despatch-bearer.  "  Do  you  know  that  at 
one  time  I  had  weights  attached  to  my  despatch-box,  so 
that  I  could  throw  the  papers  overboard,  and  sink  them, 
in  case  we  were  captured  ?  This  contains  too  much  valua- 
ble information  for  the  Yankees  to  get  hold  of.  It  would 
be  a  godsend  to  them." 

He  touched  a  carpet-bag,  that  seemed  to  contain  the  box 
and  papers  which  he  alluded  to.  It  was  hanging  to  a 
belaying-pin  in  the  fife-rail,  around  the  mizzen-mast,  and 
consequently  swung  back  and  forth  with  the  motion  of  the 
vessel ;  and  although  we  rolled  and  pitched  considerably, 
yet  not  enough  to  displace  the  bag,  and  even  if  it  had 
slipped  from  the  pin,  it  could  not  have  rolled  overboard, 
for  the  rail  was  too  high  to  admit  of  such  a  thing,  and  we 
were  not  shipping  enough  water  to  wash  it  into  the  sea, 


390  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

I  have  been  somewhat  particular  in  stating  this  fact  for 
reasons  which  will  soon  appear. 

While  the  despatch-bearer  was  chuckling  at  having 
avoided  the  Yankees,  one  of  the  crew  caine  on  the  quarter- 
deck, and  began  to  coil  down  some  of  the  ropes  which  had 
worked  loose.  I  supposed  that  the  mate  had  sent  him,  so 
did  not  look  at  the  man,  or  notice  what  he  was  about.  In 
a  few  minutes  he  had  concluded  his  labors,  and  went 
forward,  while  my  passenger  and  myself  remained  on  the 
quarter-deck,  smoking,  and  talking  of  various  topics,  all 
relating  to  the  Southern  Confederacy. 

All  at  once  Bowmount,  who  was  in  the  cabin,  brewing 
punch,  missed  me,  and  yelled  to  me  to  come  to  him,  and 
submit  to  have  my  health  drank  ;  a  proposition  that  was 
hailed  with  cheers  of  enthusiasm  by  the  passengers. 

"  We  must  go  and  see  them,"  said  the  despatch-bearer. 
"  They  are  mixing  punch,  and  I  think  I  smell  its  perfume 
even  here.  I  long  for  a  drink.  Shall  we  join  the  jolly 
dogs." 

"  I  have  no  objection.     I  think  that  we  are  now  safe." 

The  despatch-bearer  went  towards  the  mizzen-mast  for 
the  purpose  of  recovering  his  carpet-bag  which  contained 
important  papers  from  the  Richmond  government.  Sud- 
denly he  uttered  an  exclamation  of  horror,  fell  on  his 
knees,  and  commenced  searching  the  deck,  all  the  time 
uttering  the  most  passionate  exclamations. 

"  What  in  the  fiend's  name  is  the  matter?"  I  asked; 
for  I  thought  the  fellow  had  been  attacked  by  a  fit. 

"  It's  gone !  "  the  man  howled  ;  "  it's  gone  !  " 

"  What's  gone  ?  " 

"  My  carpet-bag,  containing  all  my  despatches.  O,  my 
God  !  what  will  become  of  me  ?  A  moment  ago  it  was 
here,  on  the  rail,  and  now  it  is  gone.  Some  one  has  stolen 
it.  I  am  betrayed.  There's  traitors  on  board  this  vessel. 
They  have  got  possession  of  my  despatches,  and  I  shall  be 
shot  if  I  ever  return  to  the  Confederacy." 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  89} 

At  this  moment  Bowmount  came  on  deck  to  hurry  me 
to  the  cabin.  He  overheard  the  wailing,  and  said,  — 

44  Then  it's  my  advice  to  you  to  keep  away.  Don't  be 
a  blamed  fool,  and  go  and  put  yer  head  in  the  wolf's 
mouth.  That's  my  advice,  I  reckon,  and,  shucks !  you 
may  take  it  for  what  it  is  worth,  or  let  it  alone." 

"  I've  lost  my  despatches.  I'm  a  ruined  man,"  moaned 
the  agent,  still  searching  on  the  deck  for  his  carpet-bag. 

44  Well,  then,  don't  you  go  for  to  tell  every  one  that  you 
is  ruined,  'cos  if  you  does  they  is  sure  to  believe  yer. 
Keep  cool,  and  matters  to  yerself,  and  then  ye  can  hold 
up  yer  head,  and  no  one  will  be  the  wiser  for  what  ye 
has  lost." 

44  O,  my  despatches  !  "  moaned  the  man. 

"  Hang  yer  despatches  !  they  -wan't  of  any  use,  no  how," 
pettishly  exclaimed  the  Kentuckian.  "  Let  'em  go  to 
thunder  ;  and  come  in  the  cabin,  and  have  a  drink.  I 
wouldn't  give  a  bottle  of  whiskey  for  all  the  despatches 
in  creation."  And  with  a  growl  like  that  of  an  angry 
bear,  Bowmount  returned  to  the  cabin  to  drink  success  to 
the  voyage  with  the  enthusiastic  passengers. 

44  What  shall  I  do  ?  "  asked  the  despatch-bearer,  turn- 
ing to  me  for  consolation. 

I  did  not  know  what  to  answer.  The  loss  surprised  me 
as  much  as  it  did  the  confederate  agent.  It  was  improba- 
ble that  the  bag  could  have  disappeared  without  the  aid 
of  hands  ;  for  the  motion  of  the  ship  would  not  have 
loosened  it  from  the  pin  in  the  rail.  At  first  I  thought 
that  the  man  at  the  wheel  might  have  stolen  the  property, 
but  he  could  not  have  left  his  post  without  being  detect- 
ed. Then  I  thought  of  the -fellow  who  had  come  aft,  and 
coiled  up  the  ropes.  He  must  have  committed  the  rob- 
bery, and  if  such  was  the  case,  detection  was  probable.  I 
approached  the  sailor  at  the  wheel,  an  Englishman,  and  one 
who  had  made  the  run  with  me  to  Charleston,  and  asked,  — 


892  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  Jack,  who  was  the  man  who  coiled  up  the  ropes  a  few 
minutes  since,  on  the  quarter-deck  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  sir  ;  I  didn't  look  at  him.  I  was  too 
busy  watching  the  compass,  and  keeping  the  ship  on  her 
course."  . 

"  Humph  !  "  I  thought.  "  I  wonder  if  you  are  always 
so  particular." 

"  You  saw  a  man  come  aft?  "  I  said. 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  but  I  didn't  look  up  to  see  who  it  was." 

The  mate  was  forward,  stowing  the  chain  and  anchor. 
I  sent  for  him,  and  he  was  prompt  in  coming  aft. 

"  Mr.  Cringle,"  I  said,  "  do  you  recollect  whom  you 
sent  to  the  quarter-deck  to  coil  up  ropes  ?  " 

The  mate  canted  his  head  over  one  side,  and  thought  of 
the  matter  for  a  moment.  • 

"No,  sir,"  he  answered.  "I  didn't  send  anyone  aft, 
cos  I  has  been  so  busy  that  I  didn't  think  of  it." 

The  despatch-bearer  uttered  a  howl  of  anguish. 

"  I  'opes  no  one  has  been  sassy  on  the  quarter-deck, 
sir,"  said  the  mate.  "  If  any  one  has,  jist  pint  'em  out, 
and  I'll  warrant  he  don't  do  it  agin." 

"  No  one  has  been  impudent  as  far  as  words  are  con- 
cerned, but  some  one  has  come  aft,  and  stolen  a  valuable 
package  of  papers,  which  were  in  a  carpet-bag." 

The  mate  scratched  his  head,  not  knowing  what  else  to 
do ;  and  then  he  turned  his  quid,  and  said,  — 

"  There  is  some  one  on  board  what  hadn't  ought  to  be 
here.  He  is  a  rum  customer,  and  if  I  could  lay  hands  on 
him  he'd  go  overboard  afore  he  had  time  to  say  his  prayers, 
now  I  tell  ye.  I  has  been  huntin'  for  him  from  the  time 
that  he  sent  up  that  bloody  rocket  to  the  time  when  he 
hailed  the  Yankee  gunboat.  He  is  a  sly  one,  but  I  think 
we  can  nab  him  yet ;  and  if  we  does,  why,  we  will  settle 
his  coffee  jist  is  sure  as  fate." 

"  The  man  who  gave  the  signals  might  have  been  the 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  398 

one  who  stole  the  carpet-bag.  To  you  I  intrust  the  duty 
of  finding  it.  Search  every  part  of  the  ship  if  it  is 
necessary.  Find  it,"  and  then  I  sunk  my  voice  to  a  whis- 
per, "  and  if  you  do  find  it,  don't  fail  to  give  it  to  me,  and 
say  not  a  word  about  it  to  any  one." 

"  Yes,  sir ; "  and  the  mate  was  turning  away,  when  I 
stopped  him,  by  asking,  — 

"Do  you  think  that  Dick  Smith,  the  new  hand,  is  con- 
cerned in  the  matter  ?  " 

"  Lord  bless  ye,  no,  sir.  Dick  is  as  stanch  as  oak, 
sir,  and  has  been  close  to  me  all  night.  He's  a  trump,  sir, 
and  a  smart  sailor.  That's  what  he  is." 

"  Was  he  alongside  of  you  when  the  gunboat  was 
hailed?" 

"  No,  sir ;  'cos  I'd  jist  sent  him  to  see  that  the  men 
didn't  make  a  bit  of  noise.  O,  I'll  go  bail  that  he's  a 
slap-up  true  man." 

44  Well,  perhaps  he  is  ;  but  keep  an  eye  on  him,  and  see 
if  you  can  notice  anything  suspicious." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  and  the  mate  went  forward,  while  the  con- 
federate agent  retired  to  the  cabin,  and  endeavored  to 
forget  his  misery  by  drinking  whiskey  punch,  a  task  that 
all  seemed  to  enjoy  ;  for  after  I  had  given  the  course  of 
the  ship,  and  performed  some  other  duties,  I  left  the  deck 
in  charge  of  the  mate,  and  joined  the  happy  company  that 
mustered  around  the  cabin-table,  some  of  them  so  jolly 
that  they  did  not  know  whether  they  were  on  shore  or 
the  sea. 

"  Three  cheers  for  the  cap'n  of  the  Belle  !  "  yelled  one 
fellow,  as  I  entered  the  cabin,  and  I  must  confess  that  the 
cheers  were  given  with  a  will,  and  that  a  glass  of  whiskey 
punch  was  thrust  into  my  hand,  which  I  drank  with 
infinite  relish  ;  and  then  all  eyes  were  directed  towards 
Bowmount,  who  was  telling  of  the  trouble  he  had  experi- 
enced in  searching  for  the  traitor  who  was  on  board,  and 


894  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

who  had  managed  thus  far  to  elude  all  attempts  at 
discovery.  While  this  was  going  on,  I  heard  a  commotion 
on  deck  ;  such  a  one  as  indicated  that  my  presence  was 
required. 

"  Light  off  the  starboard-bow,"  cried  the  lookout. 

"  A  steamer  in  sight  off  the  starboard-bow,"  cried  half 
a  dozen  voices ;  and  then  the  revellers  in  the  upper  cabin 
started  from  their  seats,  and  dashed  on  deck. 

"  Silence,  fore  and  aft,"  was  the  first  order  I  gave. 
"  Let  the  men  go  to  their  stations.  Gentlemen,  you  must 
retire  to  the  cabin,  or  keep  quiet.  Don't  let  me  hear  a 
loud  word." 

"  Blast  me,  if  I  don't  keep  'em  quiet,"  said  the  Kentuck- 
ian,  who  had  drank  so  much  that  he  did  not  know  what 
was  going  on  for  some  minutes.  Our  sudden  danger  had 
almost  sobered  him,  so  he  was  just  the  man  to  keep  the 
others  still. 

The  mate  pointed  out  the  suspicious  steamer,  about  a 
mile  off  our  starboard-bow,  and  apparently  edging  towards 
us ;  for  she  was  heading  in  the  same  direction  that  we 
weie,  but  without  that  regard  to  secrecy  which  was  so 
essential  to  ourselves,  for  we  could  see  the  light  of  her 
furnaces  as  she  rolled  and  pitched  with  the  heavy  sea,  and 
no  attempts  seemed  to  have  been  made  to  screen  them 
from  observation. 

I  looked  at  the  stranger,  long  and  earnestly,  through  a 
powerful  spy-glass,  but  the  night  was  so  dark  that  I 
could  not  tell  whether  we  had  fallen  in  with  one  of  Uncle 
Sam's  cruisers  or  not.  The  fellow  might  be  a  blockade- 
runner,  waiting  for  a  chance  to  get  in ;  or  he  might  have 
escaped  from  some  port,  and  was  now  running  along, 
under  easy  steam,  for  Havana,  Nassau,  or  Bermuda. 

"  What  is  he  ?  "  chorused  half  a  dozen  of  the  most 
sober  of  the  passengers. 

"Silence!"  roared  Bowmount;  "we  won't  have  no 
noise  here  on  the  quarter-deck." 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  895 

"  Gentlemen,"  I  said,  "  I  don't  know  what  to  make  of 
the  stranger,  but,  if  you  will  keep  quiet,  I'll  let  you  know 
in  the  course  of  time." 

With  this  all  seemed  satisfied,  even  if  they  were  not, 
while  I  ordered  the  steamer  to  be  kept  away  a  couple 
of  points,  wishing  no  company  under  our  circumstances. 
I  was  soon  satisfied  that  the  stranger  desired  a  closer 
acquaintance,  for  the  fellow  edged  away  to  meet  our 
movements,  and  after  we  had  run  along  for  a  mile  or  more 
without  much  change  in  our  relative  distances,  a  light  was 
flashed  from  the  rigging  of  the  steamer,  and  then  three 
lanterns  formed  a  triangle,  changing  from  the  latter  to  a 
square,  and  from  a  square  to  a  diamond,  all  of  which  meant, 
as  plainly  as  words  could  express,  that  our  number  and 
name  were  desired,  if  it  was  not  too  much  trouble  on  our 
part.  I  could  read  the  signals  as  plain  as  a  book,  but  I 
could  not  answer  them  while  surrounded  by  a  dozen  or 
more  rebel  gentlemen,  who  would  have  relished  such 
information,  and  used  it  on  other  occasions.  No ;  if  I  was 
chased  even  into  the  harbor  of  Bermuda,  I  would  not 
allow  those  on  board  to  penetrate  the  mysteries  of  the 
United  States  signals. 

"  Better  drop  the  chap,"  said  the  owner,  who  had  thrust 
his  head  into  a  pail  of  water,  and  now  was  as  sober  as  man 
could  be.  "  We  don't  want  no  such  sneaks  as  that  round 
us  —  do  we  ?  " 

"No  ;  and  I'll  try  and  throw  him  off.  At  any  rate,  we 
will  see  if  he  has  speed ;  for  I  tell  you  candidly  that  it's 
one  of  Uncle  Sam's  ships  on  the  outer  station,  ready  to 
lick  up  all  that  crosses  its  course." 

I  touched  the  bell  to  notify  the  engineer  that  more  steam 
was  wanted.  A  prompt  answer  was  returned  in  the  shape 
of  smoke  and  a  rush  of  the  paddle-wheels.  The  steamer 
started  ahead  with  increased  speed,  plunging  into  the 
waves,  throwing  the  spray  high  in  the  air,  and  sometimea 


396  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

landing  huge  masses  of  water  on  the  deck,  which  swept 
aft,  to  the  intense  disgust  of  the  passengers,  who  would 
jump  on  chicken-coops  and  chairs  for  the  purpose  of  sav- 
ing their  feet  from  being  wet.  Fifteen  minutes'  such 
running  settled  one  point,  and  that  was  that  the  gunboat 
could  travel  as  fast  as  the  Belle.  Such  at  least  appeared 
to  be  the  case  ;  for  we  did  not  increase  our  distance  from 
the  stranger.  He  held  his  own  in  spite  of  us,  which  fact 
caused  me  some  uneasiness.  The  passengers,  those  who 
were  sailors,  and  could  stand  head  seas  and  bad  weather 
without  sickness,  also  saw  that  we  had  caught  a  tartar, 
and  were  disposed  to  grumble,  as  men  will  sometimes  when 
they  are  in  distress  or  danger.  Their  alarm,  and  the  cold 
spray,  mixed  with  rain,  began  to  sober  them,  so  that  we 
ino  longer  had  snatches  of  wild  songs  and  enthusiastio 
bursts  of  self-glorification. 

"  Mr.  Cringle,"  I  said  to  the  mate,  in  a  quiet  tone, 
"  send  the  chief  engineer  to  me." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  "  and  off  he  went  on  his  errand. 

In  the  course  of  a  minute  or  more  Mr.  Crankpin  stood 
before  me,  black  with  smoke,  and  smelling  strongly  of  oil. 

"  Mr.  Crankpin,"  I  said,  in  a  low  tone,  so  that  no  one 
should  hear  me,  "  are  your  boilers  making  steam  as  fast  as 
desirable?" 

"  Yes,  sir;  they  are  doing  all  that  I  could  wish." 

"  And  the  machinery  is  in  perfect  order  ?  " 

"  Every  part  is  perfect." 

"  And  the  coal.     Does  it  burn  well  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.  Sends  out  as  much  heat  as  any  that  I  ever 
nsed." 

"  Then  why  is  our  speed  slower  than  usual  ?  " 

"  Don't  know,  sir,  unless  it  is  the  head  sea,  and  the 
wind." 

"  No  ;  the  Belle  can  make  ten  knots  an  hour,  even  with 
ahead  sea  and  strong  wind." 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  897 

"  Certainly,  she  has  done  better,  sir ;  but  at  the  present 
time  I  am  doing  all  that  can  be  done,  and  if  you  have  any 
doubts  on  the  subject,  just  send  for  my  assistant,  and  see 
what  he  thinks  on  the  subject ;  or  you  can  give  him  full 
charge  of  the  engines,  and  I'll  retire." 

"  You  will  do  nothing  of  the  kind.  I  have  confidence 
in  you,  and  believe  that  you  perform  your  duties  as  well 
as  any  man.  Ah !  that  shows  the  gunboat  is  waking  up, 
and  disposed  to  try  the  effect  of  shot  and  powder." 

The  latter  part  of ''my  remark  was  caused  by  the  report 
of  a  heavy  gun  on  board  the  Federal  vessel,  the  captain 
of  which  seemed  disposed  to  see  what  could  be  done  in 
the  way  of  bringing  us  under  his  lee  without  the  benefit 
of  a  long  chase.  I  don't  know  where  the  shot  struck. 
The  night  .was  too  dark  to  see.  But  I  noticed  that 
some  of  the  passengers  left  the  deck  suddenly;  while 
others,  who  had  been  under  fire  more  than  once,  laughed 
at  the  shot,  and  the  man  who  thought  that  he  could  hit  a 
vessel  that  was  bobbing  about  on  a  heavy  sea,  on  a  dark 
and  stormy  night,  with  only  the  glowing  smoke-stack  to 
aim  at. 

"  Let  him  waste  his  powder,"  growled  Bowxnount. 
"He  won't  hurt  us  by  it." 

I  was  not  so  sure  of  that ;  for  unless  my  eyes  deceived 
me,  the  gunboat  was  gaining  on  us  at  such  a  rate,  that  in 
the  course  of  two  or  three  hours  we  should  be  under  his 
guns  and  sunk,  unless  we  surrendered. 

"  If  we  are  pressed  too  closely,  do  you  want  me  to  throw 
overboard  some  of  the  cotton  that  is  stowed  in  the  cabb 
and  on  deck  ?  " 

"  Not  a  single  bale,"  was  emphatic  remark.  "  I'll 
carry  it  all  into  port,  or  I'll  sink  it  in  the  ocean,  ship  ana 
all.  No  half  ways  for  me.  A  big  haul  or  none..  Dog  on 
me  if  that  ain't  my  course,  now  I  tell  yer." 

"  All  right,"  I  answered  ,  and  then  turned  to  exchange 


898  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

a  few  words  with  Mrs.  Gowen,  who  would  persist  in 
remaining  on  deck  in  preference  to  retiring. 

"  Is  there  danger  of  being  taken  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  I  hope  not,"  I  answered. 

"  You  are  not  confident  of  escape ;  "  and  as  she  spoke 
she  laid  one  of  her  hands  on  my  arm. 

"  To  tell  jrou  the  truth,  the  Belle  is  not  doing  as  well 
as  we  could  hope." 

"  Then  there  must  be  some  reason  for  it,"  the  lady 
replied. 

And  those  words,  thoughtlessly  spoken,  set  me  to  think- 
ing ;  and  after  a  moment's  thought  I  determined  to  act. 
I  called  the  mate  to  me,  and  told  him  to  make  a  thorough 
examination  of  the  steamer  fore  and  aft,  and  see  if  all  was 
right ;  and  while  he  took  the  larboard  side  I  took  the 
starboard.  We  were  both  rewarded  for  our  trouble  be- 
fore we  reached  the  wheels ;  for,  while  I  found  a  huge 
fender  towing  in  the  water,  Mr.  Cringle  discovered  that 
some  sixty  fathoms  of  a  small  hawser,  which  we  had 
used  while  in  dock,  was  towing  overboard,  although  I 
could  have  sworn  that  it  was  nicely  coiled  up  near  the 
house. 

"  How  did  this  get  overboard  ?  "  roared  the  mate, 
whose  rage  was  not  confined  to  narrow  limits  when  he  saw 
the  trick  that  had  been  played  us. 

No  one  answered  the  direct  question,  although  I  could 
hear  the  men  mutter  how  they  would  serve  the  rascal  who 
had  played  us  such  scurvy  tricks  from  the  time  we  had  left 
the  wharf  until  the  present. 

"  Lay  hold  of  it,  and  rouse  it  in,  some  of  you,"  roared 
the  mate. 

The  men  did  so,  and  then  secured  the  fender,  while  I  con- 
tinued my  walk  forward,  and  was  rewarded  with  another 
important  discovery.  I  saw  a  rope  hanging  over  the  bow, 
and  on  attempting  to  haul  it  in,  found  that  I  could  not  do 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  399 

so.  A  few  moments'  investigation  showed  that  a  sail  was 
attached  to  the  rope,  which  the  evil  genius  whom  we  had 
on  board  had  managed  to  slip  under  our  stem,  and  so 
impeded  our  progress  all  of  half  a  knot  per  hour.  I 
called  to  the  men,  and  they  came  rushing  forward.  The 
strength  of  a  dozen  of  them  was  required  to  haul  the  sail 
on  board,  and  then  we  found  that  it  was  the  forecastle 
awning,  which  had  missed  being  stowed  away,  for  some 
reason  which  the  mate  could  not  account  for.  Among 
those  who  were  especially  active  in  hauling  in  the  sail  and 
fender  was  the  new  hand,  Dick  Smith.  He  swore  ven- 
geance on  the  scoundrel  who  would  do  such  a  dirty  trick, 
and  thought  a  search  should  be  made  fore  and  aft  for  the 
traitor. 

"  Some  one  is  determined,"  he  said,  "  to  have  us  fall 
into  the  hands  of  the  Yankees,  and  so  share  the  prize- 
money  ;  but  I  reckon  he  will  miss  it  this  time." 

The  man  seemed  so  interested  that  I  thought  he  was 
quite  an  addition  to  our  crew,  and  so  noticed  him  more 
than  the  others,  and  had  half  a  mind  to  station  him  near 
the  machinery,  the  part  on  deck,  so  as  to  be  sure  no  one 
played  pranks  with  it ;  but  some  trifling  thing  prevented 
me,  and  I  set  a  raw-boned  Scotchman  on  the  watch,  with 
orders  to  cut  down  any  one  who  dared  to  meddle  with  the 
works  unless  authorized  to  do  so. 

As  soon  as  the  drags  were  on  board,  the  Belle  appeared 
to  recover  her  usual  swiftness  ;  and  this  the  Federal  cruiser 
discovered  in  a  short  time,  for  he  began  to  hammer  away 
at  us  in  the  most  lively  manner,  first  with  his  bow-chasers, 
and  then  with  his  midship  gun,  a  heavy  Parrott,  that  sent 
shell  after  shell  through  the  air,  on  each  side  of  us,  astern 
of  us,  and  sometimes  ahead  of  us.  But  none  of  his  shots 
touched  us,  and  the  more  he  fired  the  more  ground  he  lost ; 
and  this  was  soon  discovered  by  the  captain  of  the  gunboat, 
for  he  shut  his  ports,  secured  his  guns,  and  crowded  on  all 


400  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

the  steam  that  he  could  stand  ;  but  still  we  dropped  him, 
and  even  saved  some  of  our  power  while  doing  so. 

At  daylight  the  gunboat  was  hull  down.  We  could  see 
nothing  of  her  but  her  masts  and  smoke,  and,  as  the  wind 
and  sea  fell,  even  those  were  soon  lost  to  view,  and  we 
were  alone  upon  that  part  of  the  ocean.  At  sunrise  the 
passengers  once  more  assembled  upon  the  deck,  those  who 
were  not  too  sick,  and  drank  gin-cocktails  and  coffee,  and 
wished  all  manner  of  luck  to  the  confederates,  and  all 
sorts  of  confusion  to  the  Yankees.  The  despatch-bearer, 
however,  was  rather  glum,  and  did  not  participate  in  the 
festivities  ;  and  once  he  said  to  me,  with  a  sullen  frown  on 
his  brow,  that  he  almost  wished  the  Belle  had  been  taken  , 
because,  if  such  had  been  the  case,  no  one  would  have 
blamed  him  for  the  loss  of  his  papers. 

"  Cheer  up,  old  feller,"  I  said  ;  "  perhaps  we  shall  yet 
find  them  before  we  reach  Bermuda." 

But  the  comfort  I  afforded  was  not  of  a  substantial 
kind,  and  the  agent  mourned,  and  refused  to  be  consoled. 
No  accident  occurred  to  us,  and  we  saw  no  vessels  except 
peaceable  merchantmen,  which  gave  us  a  wide  berth, 
fearing,  from  our  snake-like  appearance,  that  we  were  on 
the  privateer  order,  and  so  bound  not  to  respect  neutrals, 
or  those  who  hoisted  the  English  flag  for  the  purpose  of 
covering  American  bottoms. 

At  length  we  sighted  the  reef-bound  Island  of  Bermuda, 
and  steered  for  St.  George's  Harbor,  where  we  took  on 
board  a  pilot,  who  asked  for  two  things  as  soon  as  he 
touched  the  deck  —  first,  for  a  drink  of  ale  or  brandy,  he 
did  not  care  which  ;  secondly,  the  news.  Had  the  confeds 
succeeded  in  establishing  their  independence  ?  God  bless 
'em  !  They  were  a  noble-hearted  people,  and  deserved 
to  be  free.  Luff  a  little,  so  that  we  can  clear  the  coral 
reef  that  runs  out  at  this  point.  The  taking  of  Fort 
Sumter  was  the  greatest  thing  that  ever  happened  in  the 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  401 

world.  Were  there  any  Yankee  men-of-war  in  the  harbor  ? 
O,  yes!  there  was  one  —  the  Stinge*ee,  Captain  Switchell. 
She  had  arrived  the  day  before,  and  would  remain  a  week 
or  more ;  although  there  was  no  telling  what  would 
happen,  as  the  officers  were  close-mouthed  fellows,  and 
did  not  mix  much  on  shore  with  the  citizens  or  the  officers 
of  the  garrison. 

Thus  the  pilot  run  on,  till  we  dropped  anchor  not  far 
from  the  Stingeree,  whose  officers  were  on  the  quarter- 
deck, and  pretended  to  take  no  notice  of  us,  although  I 
have  no  doubt  that  it  galled  them  in  the  most  cutting  man- 
ner to  see  a  blockade-runner  enter  the  port.  In  a  few 
minutes  we  were  surrounded  by  shore-boats,  and  into  them 
our  passengers  tumbled,  bag  and  baggage,  and  so  took 
leave  of  us  without  ceremony,  as  is  customary  at  the  end 
of  all  voyages,  long  or  short.  While  the  men  were 
deserting  us,  I  entered  the  cabin,  and  spoke  to  Mrs. 
Gowen.  I  saw  that  she  had  made  no  attempts  to  pack  up 
her  effects,  and,  in  fact,  appeared  as  calm  «°s  if  she  were  at 
home. 

"  Shall  you  leave  us  this  afternoon,  Mrs  Gowen  ?  "  I 
asked. 

"  Are  you  anxious  for  me  to  go  ?  "  she  demanded,  with 
a  troubled  face. 

"No." 

"  Then  let  me  remain  on  board  for  the  present." 

u  And  your  future  plans.  What  of  them  ?  Can  you 
trust  me  with  them  ?  " 

"  I  have  no  future,"  she  sighed  ;  and  I  saw  tears  in  her 
eyes. 

"  But  you  expect  to  join  your  husband  here,  do  you 
not  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  I  shall.     I  am  not  certain." 

Further  conversation  was  interrupted  by  Bowmount, 
who  called  me  on  deck  on  business  ;  but  as  I  was  leaving 
27 


402  RUNNING   THE    BLOCKADE. 

the  cabin,  and  in  parsing  the  mate's  state-room,  I  saw 
that  the  door  was  open.  Glancing  in,  I  saw,  lying  be- 
hind a  chest,  a  bag  that  looked  like  the  one  the  despatch- 
bearer  had  lost. 

It  was  the  work  of  a  moment  to  step  into  the  room,  and 
pull  the  bag  from  behind  the  chest,  and  examine  it.  I 
was  convinced  that  it  contained  the  lost  despatches ;  but 
how  did  it  happen  to  be  in  the  mate's  room  ?  This  was  a 
question  that  I  could  not  answer,  and  I  did  not  work  at 
a  solution  of  the  mystery  very  long,  for  I  seized  on  the 
bag,  carried  it  to  my  own  state-room,  shut  the  door  and 
locked  it,  and  then  out  with  a  knife,  and  soon  ripped  the 
bag  open.  In  it  I  found  a  tin  box,  but  the  lock  yielded  to 
a  strong  pressure,  and  then  I  was  rewarded  by  the  appear- 
ance of  a  dozen  or  more  documents,  addressed  to  various 
rebel  agents  in  Europe.  I  did  not  have  time  to  glance 
over  the  papers,  even  if  I  had  desired  to  break  the  seals 
of  the  letters ;  so  thrusting  them  into  a  safe,  where  I 
knew  they  would  be  secure,  as  I  alone  had  the  key, 
returned  the  carpet-bag  and  tin  box  to  the  place  where  I 
found  them,  and  then  went  on  deck,  quite  well  satisfied 
with  my  five  minutes'  work,  yet  still  wondering  who  had 
stolen  the  despatches  in  the  first  place. 

I  argued  that  some  one  would  soon  go  for  the  bag,  so  as 
to  get  it  on  shore,  and  avail  themselves  of  its  contents ; 
and  it  struck  me  that  the  presence  of  a  Federal  gunboat 
in  the  harbor  had  something  to  do  with  the  despatches. 
Word  might  have  been  sent  from  Charleston  to  the  com- 
mander of  the  fleet  that  the  Belle  was  intending  to  touch 
at  Bermuda,  and  that  an  important  bundle  of  documents 
would  go  on  board  of  her  in  charge  of  a  special  messenger, 
fresh  from  Richmond.  To  be  sure,  I  had  tried  to  keep 
secret  our  destination,  but  the  Kentuckian  had  more  than 
once  blurted  out  that  Bermuda  was  the  point  we  should 
arm  at,  and  that  he  could  obtain  cash  for  all  of  his  cotton 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  40f 

if  he  once  landed  it  there.  It  was  an  easy  matter  to  send 
word  to  the  admiral,  and  more  easy  for  him  to  despatch 
the  Stingeree  to  the  port  we  were  expected  to  touch  at, 
in  hope  that  important  documents  would  be  placed  in  the 
hands  of  Captain  Switchell.  Even  while  I  was  turning 
these  matters  in  my  mind,  I  happened  to  glance  at  the 
quarter-deck  of  the  Stingeree,  and  read,  as  plain  as  in 
print,  a  signal  in  the  mizzen-rigging,  which  said,  — 

"  If  you  have  the  papers,  bring  them  on  board  as  quick 
as  possible." 

The  signals  were  not  formed  to  express  those  very 
words,  for  only  a  little  piece  of  red-and-blue  bunting  was 
hanging  in  the  rigging ;  but  still  it  was  intended  to  con- 
vey just  what  I  have  written,  yet  no  one,  unless  acquaint- 
ed with  the  Union  secret  service  could  have  made  out  of 
the  little  flag  anything  more  than  an  innocent  piece  of 
bunting. 

"  Now,"  I  thought,  "  here  is  a  chance  to  discover  the 
person  who  has  done  all  he  could  to  deliver  us  into  the 
hands  of  the  Union  fleet." 

But  I  looked  in  vain  for  an  answer  to  the  signal.  As 
far  as  I  could  tell,  no  reply  was  returned  ;  although  I 
noticed  that  Dick  Smith,  the  new  hand,  jumped  on  the 
rail,  and  waved  his  hat  several  times  ;  yet,  when  I  ordered 
him  down,  he  said  that  he  was  bidding  farewell  to  some 
of  the  passengers  who  were  bound  for  the  shore,  full 
of  fun  and  impudence.  In  less  than  an  hour's  time  I 
saw  Dick  Smith,  with  a  jacket  in  his  hand,  walking 
towards  the  cabin. 

"Now  I  have  you,  my  man,"  I  thought,  and  watched 
the  fellow  like  a  cat  watching  a  mouse. 

As  Smith  walked  towards  the  cabin,  the  mate's  jacket 
hanging  on  his  arm,  I  pretended  not  to  notice  him,  for  I 
saw  him  glance  at  me  several  times,  as  if  wondering 
whether  I  would  object  to  his  coming  aft.  I  did  not 


404  RUNNING    THE    BLOCKADE. 

even  look  at  the  fellow,  yet  not  one  of  his  movement* 
escaped  me.  He  entered  the  cabin,  and  I  followed  him. 
but  not  quick  enough  to  notice  if  he  looked  behind  the 
chest  where  the  despatch-bag  was  concealed.  He  was 
placing  the  coat  on  a  hook  when  I  came  upon  him 
suddenly. 

"  Hollo,  Smith !  "  I  said,  "  what  are  you  doing  here  ?  " 

The  man  did  not  exhibit  the  least  signs  of  disappoint- 
ment or  surprise  as  he  turned  and  faced  me. 

"  Mr.  Cringle  told  me  to  hang  the  jacket  in  his  state- 
room, sir,  and  that  is  the  reason  I  am  here." 

''  You  are  sure  that  another  motive  did  not  induce  you 
to  come?  "  I  asked. 

"  I  don't  know  what  you  mean,  sir,  unless  it  is  that  I 
wanted  a  glass  of  grog,  and  hoped  you  would  give  it  to 
me  if  you  saw  me  aft." 

The  man  touched  his  cap  in  true  man-of-war  style,  and 
smiled  in  so  good-natured  a  manner  that  all  of  my  sus- 
picions vanished  in  an  instaut,  and  once  more  I  looked 
upon  the  fellow  in  the  light  of  a  true-hearted,  careless 
sailor. 

"  You  shall  have  your  grog,  if  only  for  your  impu- 
dence," I  said,  and  ordered  one  of  the  stewards  to  give 
the  man  a  tot  of  whiskey. 

"  Your  health,  cap'n,"  he  said.  "  You  are  one  of  the 
lucky  men  ;  may  it  continue  !  " 

I  did  not  like  the  tone  in  which  the  fellow  spoke,  yet 
there  was  nothing  I  could  seize  upon  so  that  I  could  take 
him  to  task.  It  seemed  to  me  as  though  a  sneer  was  in- 
tended. 

Smith  swallowed  the  liquor,  and  then  said,  — 

"  I  suppose,  cap'n,  that  I'm  free  now.  I  can  go  on 
shore  when  I  please,  can't  I  ?  " 

"  Yes,  you  know  you  shipped  for  the  run.  You  can 
leave  me  this  afternoon,  if  you  like." 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  405 

•*  Thank  you,  cap'n,  I  think  that  I'll  go  on  shore  with- 
out delay,  and  the  next  time  we  meet  I  hope  that  we 
shall  be  even." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that  ?  "  I  asked  a  little  sternly. 

"  Why,  that  I  may  be  the  skipper  of  a  craft  as  large 
and  as  swift  as  the  Belle." 

"  O,  yes !  I  see." 

"  That  would  make  us  equal,  wouldn't  it,  sir  ?  " 

And  the  fellow  grinned,  and  left  the  cabin,  leaving  me 
wondering  where  I  had  heard  his  voice  and  seen  hia 
peculiar  smile  before. 

But  all  thoughts  of  Smith  were  banished  from  my  mind 
by  the  duties  which  I  was  called  upon  to  perform  ;  for 
the  ship  was  crowded  with  shore  people,  eager,  hungry 
Bermudians,  who  sympathized  with  the  South  because 
they  could  make  money  by  the  operation,  not  on  account 
of  the  justness  of  the  conflict.  How  the  descendants  of 
pirates  and  convicts  did  fawn  upon  us,  praise  us,  and 
coax  us  for  a  chance  to  sell  some  of  the  tempting  cotton 
that  lumbered  our  decks !  They  offered  all  manner  of 
inducements,  boasted  of  their  harbor,  their  enterprise,  PA! 
ended  by  drinking  whiskey  with  Bowmount  until  one 
half  of  them  were  piled  up  under  the  dinner  table,  and  the 
other  half  were  in  a  state  of  kissing  and  crying  drunken- 
ness ;  and  in  this  condition  they  were  sent  on  shore, 
where  it  is  to  be  hoped  they  met  with  a  warm  reception 
at  the  hands  of  their  indignant  wives. 

But  the  result  was  that  the  cotton  was  sold  at  a  most 
M>uloii3  sum,  all  payable  in  gold,  and  the  day  that  we 
commenced  discharging,  which  was  soon  after  we  had  en- 
tered port,  I  was  on  shore,  in  company  with  Mrs.  Gowen, 
when  whom  should  I  meet,  face  to  face,  but  my  old 
acquaintance,  Colonel  Rhett,  whom  I  had  assisted  in  ob- 
taining a  discharge  from  prison  in  Charleston.  I  could 
scarcely  believe  my  eyes.  I  rubbed  them,  and  then,  sail- 


408  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

or-like,  was  inclined  to  rate  them  for  deceiving  me.  But 
there  was  no  deception  in  the  matter.  Before  me  stood 
Colonel  Rhett,  with  his  white  beard  and  white  eyebrows, 
long  gray  hair  and  keen  black  eyes.  Even  the  gold- 
headed  cane,  that  looked  so  substantial  and  respectable, 
was  in  his  right  hand ;  and  when  the  Virginian  saw  me, 
he  brought  the  cane  down  upon  the  ground  with  a  ring, 
and  an  oath  from  his  mouth. 

"  Well,  I  reckon  we  have  met  once  more,"  the  colonel 
said,  in  a  tone  that  was  far  from  pleasant. 

In  fact,  I  thought  it  was  rather  threatening  than  other- 
wise. 

"  Yes,  colonel,  we  have  met  again,  and  I  am  very  sorry 
for  it,  for  I  hoped  never  more  see  your  ugly,  treacherous 
face." 

"  You  are  complimentary,  sir.    Hang   me  if  you  ain't." 

"  I  don't  intend  to  be." 

"  No ;  I  see  you  don't.  A  man  like  you  don't  stand 
on  trifles,  that  is  a  fact." 

"Speaking  of  standing,  will  you  be  kind  enough  to 
BU*nd  out  of  my  path,  for  I  want  to  move  on  ?  "  and  as  I 
spoke,  I  endeavored  to  pass  on ;  but  the  fellow  was  not 
in  the  humor  to  give  way. 

"  Look  a-here,  Captain  Barnwell,"  Rhett  said.  "  You 
have  crossed  me  at  all  points." 

"  Well,  how  do  you  intend  to  help  yourself?  " 

The  colonel  banged  down  his  stick,  and  seemed  inclined 
to  take  offence  ;  but  concluded  that  he  wouldn't  just  then, 
so  continued :  — 

"  You  have  had  wonderful  luck,  sir ;  or  else  you  bear 
a  charmed  life.  All  plots  against  you  have  failed  ;  the 
best-laid  schemes  have  been  defeated.  When  we  reck- 
oned that  we  had  you  sure,  you  would  wriggle  out  of  the 
net.  How  did  you  do  it  ?  " 

"  Do  you  want  to  know  very  bad  ?  " 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE*  407 

"  Yes,  sir ;  I  reckon  I  do." 

"  Well,  then,  listen  and  learn.  Honesty  has  ever  been 
my  guide,  my  counsellor,  my  friend." 

"  O,  what  blamed  bosh  !  what  nonsense  !  what  trash  !  " 

Down  went  his  stick  to  the  ground,  and  once  more  1 
attempted  to  pass  him  ;  but  the  colonel  was  so  urgent 
that  I  should  remain  and  listen  to  him,  I  concluded  to  do 
so  ;  for  I  had  foiled  the  old  fellow  so  many  times  I  could 
afford  to  joke  a  little  with  him,  and  bother  him  on  matters 
of  a  purely  personal  nature. 

"  Even  when  I  was  taken  from  the  deck  of  the  Growler 
to  that  of  the  Belle  you  got  the  best  of  me." 

"  Yes  ;  I  recollect  that  you  were  not  transported  with 
joy  when  you  found  you  were  in  the  presence  of  a  man 
whom  you  had  attempted  to  injure." 

"  True  ;  I  didn't  know  but  you  might  give  me  a  push 
overboard,  to  pay  me  for  what  I  had  done." 

"  I  suppose  that  you  deserved  such  treatment ;  but  I  am 
a  gentleman,  and  not  an  assassin." 

"  You  came  very  near  it,  at  any  rate,  when  you  took 
me  by  the  throat,  the  night  we  entered  Charleston." 

And  the  colonel  rubbed  his  neck  as  though  it  were  still 
sore  from  the  tremendous  squeeze  which  I  gave  it. 

"  Do  you  know,"  I  said,  "  that  I  am  quite  sorry  I  did 
not  finish  you  on  that  occasion  ?  You  deserved  it,  if 
ever  a  man  did." 

"You  think  so?"  and  the  colonel  smiled  in  a  provok- 
ing manner. 

44 1  know  so ;  for  I  heard  you  plotting  with  that  mu- 
latto, John,  one  day  in  your  state-room.  I  did  not  hear 
enough  to  convince  me  that  you  meant  treachery,  b'it  I 
was  on  the  watch  for  you,  nevertheless." 

"  But  you  did  not  watch  me  sharp  enough  to  prevent 
me  from  swinging  a  lantern,  and  making  other  signs  to 
the  Federal  fleet."  and  the  old  wretch  smiled  in  the  most 
insulting  manner. 


408  'RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

"  No,  I  did  not ;  but  you  had  only  a  moment  to  wave 
your  lantern  ;  then  I  think  you  went  to  the  deck  in  a 
sudden  manner,  and  only  by  my  interference  did  you 
escape  with  life.  In  a  moment  more,  had  I  not  stayed 
him,  the  Kentuckian  would  have  given  you  a  taste  of  his 
bowie-knife." 

"  That  man  is  a  demon,"  the  colonel  said.  "  He  is 
worse  than  all  other  men.  He  is  like  a  grizzly-bear,  all 
teeth  and  claws  ;  and,  curse  him,  he  comes  at  you  head 
first,  tail  first,  sideways,  and  every  other  way,  so  that  you 
don't  know  how  to  receive  him  I  had  rather  meet  the 
imps  than  that  same  crazy,  drunken  Kentuckian." 

"  I  don't  blame  you ;  for  some  time  he  will  break  your 
neck,  unless  you  keep  clear  of  his  course.  He  will  never 
forgive  you  for  your  tricks  on  the  night  we  run  the 
blockade." 

"  Ha,  ha  !  "  and  the  colonel  laughed  heartily.  "  If  he 
knew  all,  he  would  have  more  of  a  grudge  against  me.  I 
reckon  he  would  cut  me  up  into  inch  pieces,  and  feed  me 
out  to  the  dogs." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"Just  this,"  answered  the  colonel.  "I  had  the 
honor  to  take  passage  with  you  from  Charleston  to  this 
port." 

"  It  is  a  lie,"  I  said.  "  I  did  not  see  you  on  board  dur- 
ing the  passage." 

"  O,  yes  you  did ;  and  talked  with  me  several  times. 
In  fact,  Captain  Barnwell,  I  made  the  signals  to  the  Fed- 
eral fleet,  and  hailed  it ;  I  sent  up  the  rocket,  and 
threw  fenders  over  so  that  the  Belle  could  not  out-steam 
the  gunboat ;  and  when  I  found  that  she  was  likely  to  do 
so,  I  pitched  the  awning  over  the  bow,  and  would  have 
smashed  some  part  of  the  machine^  if  you  had  not  set  a 
watch  so  that  I  could  not  approach  it  without  detection." 

The  scamp  stood  before  me,  and  grinned  in  triumph  at 


RUNNING  THE    BLOCKADE.  409 

the  recital  of  his  treachery.  I  was  so  angry  at  what  he 
said,  that  I  put  my  hand  in  my  bosom  for  the  purpose  of 
drawing  a  revolver,  aud  shooting  him  dead  on  the  spot ; 
but  the  scamp  saw-  the  .motion,  and  divined  the  object. 

"  Don't  do  -that,"  he  said,  in  a  cool  tone  ;  "  if  you  do, 
you  will  repent  it.  Recollect  that  you  are  not  now  in  the 
Confederacy ;  you  don't  stand  on  Southern  ground,  and 
ain't  backed  by  rebel  bayonets.  Here  I  am  as  good  as 
you :  you  are  in  Bermuda,  and  under  the  British  flag.  If 
I  am  shot,  you  will  be  hanged.  Put  up  your  revolver, 
and  listen  to  me,  for  I  have  some  disagreeable  truths  to 
tell  you." 

"  Confound  you,"  I  replied,  "  I  have  no  desire  to  talk 
with  you.  Let  me  pass,  or  I  fear  I  shall  do  you  mis- 
chief." 

"  I  have  no  fear  of  it.  Don't  keep  your  passions  quiet, 
if  you  have  the  least  inclination  to  curse.  You  can't  hate 
me  more  than  I  do  you." 

"  And  on  account  of  that  hatred  you  tried  to  make  me 
lose  my  ship." 

"  Yes  ;  to  pay  you  for  the  stripes  which  still  grace  my 
oack,  and  smart  with  every  movement  of  my  body.  Do 
you  think  that  I  have  forgotten  your  agency  in  the 
matter  ?  " 

(- 1  hope  not." 

"  Every  time  the  stripes  smart  I  remember  you." 

"  I  am  glad  of  it,  because  every  time  I  see  a  rope  I 
think  of  your  exertions  to  hang  me,  and  how  near  you 
succeeded.  You  remember,  I  suppose  ?" 

"  Yes  ;  and  I  am  sorry  that  I  did  not  succeed.  Curses 
on  my  luck  for  the  failure  A  few  minutes  more,  and  I 
should  have  seen  the  last  of  you." 

"  You  forget  that  I  saved  your  life  after  it  was  forfeit- 
ed. That  I  took  you  from  prison,  even  when  you  had  not 
a  friend  to  gpeak  a  good  word  for  you.  At  least  such 
fcindness  deserves  a  word  of  gratitude." 


410  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  But  I  have  none  to  give  you.  You  are  too  successful 
to  find  favor  in  my  eyes.  From  the  first  time  I  saw  you  I 
hated  you." 

"  And  your  hatred  increased  from  the  moment  you  saw 
your  daughter's  friendship  for  me,"  I  said,  with  a  smile. 

Confound  you,"  returned  the  venerable  colonel,  with 
an  angry  stamp  of  one  of  his  feet,  and  a  rap  of  his  cane, 
"  did  you  never  suspect  that  she  was  my  wife,  and  not 
my  daughter?  " 

"The  deuce!  No,  I  never  thought  of  such  a  thing. 
What  possessed  an  old  fool  like  you  to  marry  such  a 
young  woman?  " 

To  my  surprise,  the  colonel  nearly  exploded  .with  laugh- 
ter, and  only  after  he  could  command  his  face  did  he 
venture  to  reply  to  my  sarcasm. 

"  You  are  smart,  Captain  Barnwell,  but  you  ain't  so 
smart  and  so  wise  as  you  think  for.  You  are  pretty  good 
looking,  but  you  can't  come  in." 

"  Heaven  forbid  that  I  should  disturb  that  serenity  of 
mind  which  is  so  much  needed  in  your  venerable  head. 
But  I  can't  stand  here  all  day  talking  with  you.  Go  and 
join  your  young  and  handsome  wife,  and  may  your  days 
be  long  in  the  land.  Give  my  regards  to  her  when  next 
you  meet." 

I  once  more  attempted  to  pass  on,  but  the  colonel 
stopped  me  by  the  motion  of  his  hands. 

"  Don't  leave  me  so  soon,"  he  entreated,  with  a  mock- 
ing smile.  "  I  want  to  tell  you  that  I  am  as  smart  as  you 
are,  although  you  don't  seem  to  think  so." 

"  Prove  it,  sir ;  and  I'll  be  convinced  that  your  words 
are  true.  I  make  no  pretensions  to  smartness,  while  you 
do.  Go  on.  Let  me  hear  what  you  have  done." 

"  I  Trill ;  because  concealment  is  of  no  use  any  longer. 
I  am  ordered  home,  but  before  I  leave  you  I  will  let  you 
into  a  secret." 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  411 

"  Good.     Go  on.     I  am  listening." 

"  You  know  when  I  attempted  to  signalize  the  Union 
fleet,  on  entering  Charleston  Harbor  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  Well,  that  was  the  result  of  a  conspiracy  between 
John  and  myself.  You  know  that  John  hated  you  a  little 
worse  than  I  did." 

"  Yes ;  I  suspect  that  such  was  the  case.  But  I  care 
nothing  for  the  matter." 

"  But  we  annoyed  you,  nevertheless.  We  leagued  to- 
gether to  imprison  you  in  the  haunted  house.  There  wo 
should  have  finished  you,  or  given  you  up  to  the  Yankees, 
if  it  had  not  been  for  that  blamed  Kentuckian." 

"  I  suppose  that  you  were  in  favor  of  finishing,"  I  said. 

"  No  ;  I  did  not  want  to  kill  you,  although  John  did. 
I  reckon  he  would  have  knocked  you  on  the  head  in  short 
order  if  I  had  not  persuaded  him  to  keep  still,  and  let  the 
Yankees  deal  with  you." 

"It  was  very  kind  on  your  part,  and  I  am  fearful  that  I 
shall  never  repay  you,"  I  cried,  still  maintaining  a  con- 
temptuous coldness,  that  I  saw  annoyed  the  fellow  more 
than  downright  rage. 

"  Perhaps  not ;  but  still,  let  me  tell  you  that  you  have 
precious  little  to  be  thankful  for  as  far  as  I  am  con- 
cerned. I  have  done  my  best  to  annoy  you,  and  failed. 
I  own  it." 

"  Go  on,  and  repeat  some  more  of  your  rascalities.  I 
should  like  to  hear  the  rest  of  them." 

"  You  shall.  When  you  released  John  and  I  from  the 
Charleston  prison,  we  laid  our  heads  together." 

"  I  hope  with  no  disagreeable  result  to  either  of  you. 
With  your  heads  together,  I  do  not  know  which  would 
fare  the  worse." 

"  There  spoke  the  South  Carolinian,"  said  the  old  -vaga- 
bond, with  more  than  usual  energy.  "I  never  saw  one 
from  vour  State  who  did  not  hate  a  negro."' 


U2  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

I  could  not  refrain  from  laughing ;  for  the  remark 
showed  that  my  secret  was  not  even  suspected  by  the 
Virginian. 

"  I'm  not  an  abolitionist,"  the  colonel  continued  ;  "  but 
I  have  got  some  little  feeling  for  the  negro." 

"  Look  here,  old  fellow,"  I  cried,  out  of  patience,  "  are 
you  a  colonel  in  the  confederate  service,  or  what  the  world 
are  you  ?  ' ' 

"  Didn't  you  telegraph  to  Richmond,  and  find  out  who 
I  was?  I  reckon  I'm  Colonel  Rhett,  of  Virginia.  If  I 
ain't,  who  the  deuse  am  I  ?  " 

"  That  I  should  like  to  know.  The  telegraph  said  that 
you  were  all  right ;  but  I  don't  believe  it  at  the  same 
tune." 

The  old  scamp  chuckled,  and  then  rapped  the  ground 
quite  smartly  with  his  gold-headed  cane,  and  said,  — 

"  I'm  on  British  ground,  my  friend." 

"  Don't  call  me  your  friend,"  most  indignantly. 

"  Just  as  you  please.  I  don't  suppose  that  I  have 
acted  a  friendly  part  as  far  as  you  are  concerned.  But 
that  ain't  here  nor  there.  We  are  now  talking  of  busi- 
ness." 

"  Yes  ;  go  on,  and  confine  yourself  to  business." 

"  I  will ;  for  I  want  to  take  the  conceit  out  of  you,  and 
show  that  you  don't  know  so  much,  and  are  not  so  smart 
as  you  think  for." 

"  Bah  !  you  can't  surprise  me." 

"  Can't  I  ?  " 

As  the  fellow  spoke,  he  tore  off  the  gray  beard  and  hair 
from  liis  head  and  face,  and  stood  before  me  as  Dick 
Smith,  late  foremast-hand  on  board  the  Belle. 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  418 


CHAPTER  XII. 

A.  COMPLETE  SURPRISE.  —  A  UNION  SPY.  —  AN  INTER- 
VIEW WITH  CAPTAIN  SWITCHELL.  -  MRS.  GOWEN  AND 
HER  HUSBAND.  —  A  PAINFUL  SCENE.  —  THE  KENTUCK- 
IAN  LN  A  NEW  CHARACTER. — A  TERRIBLE  REVELA- 
TION. —  THE  KENTUCKIAN'S  STORY.  —  MAGNOLIA'S  HIS- 
TORY. —  A  SHARE  OF  THE  PROFITS.  —  SALE  OF  THE 
BELLE.  —  MEETING  OF  OLD  FRIENDS  IN  NEW  YORK.  — 
OFF  FOR  WASHINGTON.  —  PROMOTION  TO  THE  RANK  OF 
COMMANDER. — SMITH  IS  ASTONISHED.  —  ALITTLE  LOVE- 
MAKING. —  AN  INTERRUPTION.  —  A  STERN  PARENT. — 
TERMS.  —  AN  AGREEMENT.  —  A  WEDDING. 

I  MUST  confess  that  I  was  more  than  surprised,  I  was 
most  intensely  astonished,  to  see  the  transformation  of  the 
gallant  Colonel  Rhett  into  the  common  sailor,  Dick  Smith, 
whom  I  had  shipped  in  Charleston,  owing  to  his  urgent 
solicitations.  I  could  hardly  believe  my  eyes ;  and  I 
rubbed  them  to  make  sure  I  saw  aright,  and  that  it  was 
no  optical  illusion. 

Still  I  did  not  speak,  but  looked  at  the  grinning  fellow  ; 
and  he  looked  at  me  with  an  impudent  leer  on  his  face, 
that  spoke  of  triumph  and  success. 

"  You're  a  little  astonished,  my  sweet  captain,"  re- 
marked Colonel  Rhett,  alias  Dick  Smith.  "  Why,  even 
the  Yankees  at  Bull  Run  were  not  so  surprised  and  aston- 
ished as  you  are  at  this  moment." 

"What  are  you,"  I  demanded;  "a  Confederate  or  a 
Federal  ?  a  spy  or  a  demon  ?  " 

"  What  should  you  think,  my  gallant  captain  ?  "  asked 
the  fellow,  with  a  laugh.  "  Don't  I  look  a*?  though  J 
•>ould  be  most  anything  ?" 

«  Yes." 


414  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  Well,  then,  I  will  tell  you  what  I  have  been  for  the 
past  six  months;  and  hard  work  I  found  it,  I  assure  you." 

"  Tell  on." 

"  A  Union  spy." 

"  The  deuce  you  are  !  " 

And  once  more  I  was  astonished  ;  for  I  saw  at  a  glance 
how  we  had  crossed  each  other,  and  fought  each  other, 
under  the  impression  that  each  was  rendering  great  ser- 
vice to  the  Federal  cause.  But  the  time  had  not  yet  ar- 
rived for  me  to  betray  my  connection  with  the  Unionists  ; 
for  I  commanded  the  Belle,  and  still  associated  with  prom- 
inent rebels.  So,  when  the  colonel,  alias  Smith,  told  me  he 
was  a  professional  Union  spy,  I  managed  to  assume  a  look 
intended  for  virtuous  indignation,  and  thundered  out, — 

"  You  scoundrel !  I  have  a  great  mind  to  shoot  you  !  " 

Of  course  I  had  not  the  least  intention  of  so  doing  ;  but 
I  put  my  hand  in  my  breast  pocket,  as  if  feeling  for  a 
revolver. 

"  Don't  do  it,  my  gallant  captain,"  cried  Smith,  who 
saw  the  movement,  and  knew  from  experience  what  it 
meant.  "  You  are  not  in  South  Carolina  now,  —  you  are 
on  John  Bull's  territory ;  and  if  you  shoot  me  you'll  be 
hung.  Don't  doubt  it;  for  a  Yankee  man-of-war  is  ii. 
port,  and  would  insist  on  justice." 

"  Don't  be  alarmed,"  I  said.     "  I  won't  hurt  you." 

"  O,  I  ain't  alarmed,  my  gallant  captain.  I  have  run 
too  many  risks  to  be  alarmed  at  an  angry  threat.  I  have 
carried  my  life  in  my  hand  for  many  months,  and  have 
had  some  wonderful  escapes  from  the  cord  and  bullet. 
To  be  sure,"  the  fellow  continued,  in  a  tone  that  showed 
he  was  sincere,  "  if  we  were  alone,  and  in  some  place 
where  the  law  would  let  us  up,  I  wouldn't  mind  taking  a 
crack  at  you,  with  revolvers,  at  ten  paces,  provided  you 
felt  a  little  aggravated  at  me  for  what  I  have  done." 

"  You  have  played  a  bold  game,"  I  remarked,  "  and 
have  lost.  You  tried  to  secure  the  capture  of  my  ship ; 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  415 

but  failed  through  my  vigilance.  I  am  safe  in  port,  and 
in  future  will  take  care  that  no  such  sailor  as  you  ships 
in  my  craft." 

"  You  may  be  as  cautious  as  you  please  ;  but  Uncle  Sam 
is  powerful,  and  has  many  arms  and  many  eyes.  In  spite 
of  your  efforts,  he  will  know  what  you  are  doing." 

While  the  man  was  speaking,  I  made  one  of  my  secret 
service  signs  ;  but  there  was  no  response.  Three  times  I 
tried  him,  and  failed  to  elicit  a  reply ;  so  I  came  to  the 
just  conclusion,  that  Smith  was  a  volunteer  spy,  and  not 
attached  to  the  higher  order  of  secret  service,  such  as  I 
had  undertaken  at  the  request  of  President  Lincoln  and 
Secretary  Welles. 

Then  we  separated,  the  spy  going  in  one  direction,  and 
I  in  another ;  but  I  had  not  walked  along  forty  fathoms 
before  who  should  I  stumble  on  but  a  young  friend,  Mid- 
shipman Reefpoint,  looking  as  fresh  and  handsome  as 
when  I  first  met  him.  The  boy  saw  me,  and  would  have 
run  towards  me  and  offered  his  hand,  if  I  had  not  made  a 
sign  which  he  understood.  It  informed  him  that  I  did  not 
wish  to  speak  to  him  on  the  street,  in  sight  of  so  many 
eager,  jealous  Bermudians. 

"  All  right,"  he  replied,  with  an  almost  imperceptible 
nod  of  his  head ;  but  as  he  passed  me  he  whispered,  — 

*•  Let  me  see  you  for  a  moment  —  can't  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  I  replied.     "  Follow  me. 

I  led  the  way  towards  a  second-class  house,  where 
mates  and  petty  officers  of  men-of-war  congregated  when 
on  shore,  off  duty.  I  knew  that  I  could  there  find  a  room 
and  a  glass  of  ale,  and  that  we  could  talk  without  being 
disturbed,  if  we  were  lucky.  Harry  followed  me  into  the 
house,  up  one  flight  of  stairs,  into  a  room  that  was  small 
»nd  uncomfortable ;  but  it  overlooked  the  harbor,  and  an- 
swered our  purpose.  Just  as  we  sat  down,  I  saw  Captain 
Switchell,  of  the  Growler,  land,  and  walk  up  the  street , 


416  RUNNING   THE  BLOCKADE. 

a  proceeding  that  called  forth  some  few  groans  from  the 
fun-loving  Bermudians,  who,  like  John  Bull  and  the  rest 
of  his  tribe,  were  extremely  neutral  during  the  war. 

"Now,  Reefpoint,"  I  said,  as  I  shook  hands  with  the 
young  man,  "  tell  me  how  you  managed  to  reach  the 
fleet." 

"  We  had  a  tough  time  of  it,  but  made  our  escape,  after 
some  risk  and  danger.  Your  welcome  information  was 
well  received  by  the  admiral,  and  saved  the  fleet,  I  have 
no  doubt.  But  —  " 

Just  at  this  moment  a  noise  was  heard  on  the  stairs. 
Then  the  door  of  our  room  was  burst  open  ;  and  into  the 
apartment  tumbled  Captain  Switchell,  and  Smith,  the 
Union  spy,  with  the  first  lieutenant  of  the  Growler. 

As  Captain  Switchell,  and  Smith,  the  spy,  entered  the 
room,  Reefpoint  and  I  started  to  our  feet,  surprised  at 
the  interruption ;  for  no  warning  had  been  given  that  we 
were  to  receive  callers,  and  we  could  not  comprehend 
what  was  meant  by  the  intrusion. 

Smith  was  the  first  to  speak ;  and  when  he  did  open  his 
mouth  he  revealed  his  purpose  in  so  decided  a  manner 
there  was  no  misunderstanding  him. 

"  Captain  Switchell,"  said  the  spy,  "  I  have  brought 
you  here  to  let  you  see  that  one  of  your  officers  is  holding 
a  close  and  confidential  conversation  with  one  of  the  most 
dangerous  rebels  of  the  South.  I  know  him,  sir,  as  a  rebel 
and  as  commander  of  the  blockade-runner  Belle,  now  ly 
ing  close  under  the  guns  of  your  ship." 

Captain  Switchell,  his  fat,  red  face  steaming  with  per- 
spiration, the  effect  of  unusual  exertions  and  the  warm  sun 
combined,  had  been  staring  at  me  from  the  moment  he 
entered  the  apartment,  his  eyes  expressing  astonishment, 
and  his  huge  mouth  open  to  its  widest  extent,  as  though 
he  was  thinking  by  its  aid  and  tasting  treason.  For  a  mo- 
ment he  did  not  speak,  for  his  gaze  wandered  from  Reef- 


RUNNING    THE    BLOCKADE.  417 

point  to  me,  and  then  from  Smith  to  the  -lieutenant,  and 
from  their  faces  to  the  table,  to  see  if  there  was  anything 
on  it  of  a  liquid  nature. 

Smith  noticed  that  Captain  Switchell  did  not  speak ;  so 
made  another  remark,  calculated  to  draw  him  out. 

"  I  tell  you,  captain,  this  man  is  a  dangerous  one," 
—  he  pointed  to  me  while  he  spoke,  —  "  and  he  is  attempt- 
ing to  corrupt  one  of  your  young  and  inexperienced 
.officers." 

Then  Captain  Switchell,  who  had  recovered  his  pres- 
ence of  mind,  it  seemed,  no  longer  kept  silent,  for  he 
roared  out  a  hoarse  sort  of  chuckle,  that  was  intended 
for  a  laugh  ;  but  it  was  such  a  laugh  as  a  sea-lion  would 
have  uttered  when  in  a  jovial  mood. 

"•  Inexperienced  19 "  cried  the  captain,  with  another 
chuckle.  "  Why,  hang  it,  man  !  an  old  head  is  on  those 
young  shoulders ;  and  I  defy  all  the  rebs.  in  Dixie  or  out 
of  it,  to  corrupt  him." 

And  then  the  captain  gave  me  a  wink,  and  made  a 
sign  to  keep  quiet,  and  that  he  would  make  matters  all 
right. 

"  You  don't  know  Captain  Barnwell  as  well  as  I  do," 
said  the  spy,  in  an  appealing  tone.  "  I  have  had  so 
much  to  do  with  him  that  I  understand  him  most  thor- 
oughly." 

"  O,  belay  that,"  returned  the  captain.  "  The  master 
of  the  blockade-runner  don't  look  so  bad,  after  all ;  and 
I'll  lay  a  wager  he  was  not  talking  treason  with  Mr. 
Reefpoint.  Come,  I'll  bet  the  wine  that  he  was  not ;  and 
I'll  leave  it  to  Captain  Barnwell  to  decide." 

"  On  my  word  of  honor  I  was  not,"  I  replied. 

*'  And  on  my  word  of  honor  he  did  not  mention  poli- 
tics," cried  Master  Reefpoint,  with  so  much  earnestness, 
that  I  could  not  avoid  laughing ;  which  circumstance  so 

surprised  Smith,  alias  Rhett,  who  had  expected  to  see  me 

28 


418  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

humbled  by  the  presence  of  Captain  Switchell,  that  ha 
remarked,  in  a  surprised  tone,  — 

"  It  appears  to  me  that  I  have  made  a  mistake  in  con 
veying  my   information.      Had    I   known    that   Captain 
Switchell  did  not  care  for  the  reputation  or  temptation  of 
one  of  his  officers,  I  should  have  held  my  peace." 

"  Bah  !  "  retorted  the  captain,  with  an  internal  chuckle 
that  sounded  as  though  a  number  of  men  were  at  work 
rousing  up  a  chain-cable  in  his  interior  arrangements. 
"  Bah !  Don't  be  suspicious  of  every  one.  We  are  now 
in  a  neutral  port ;  and  it  won't  do  to  board  every  craft 
that  we  fall  in  with.  Put  aside  all  hard  feeling,  and  let 
us  see  if  this  crib  can  furnish  us  with  a  bottle  of  claret ; 
for  I'm  almost  roasted,  and  dry  as  a  marine." 

Smith  looked  disappointed,  and  a  little  hurt,  when  he 
the  turn  matters  had  taken. 

"  If  you  don't  want  to  foil  rebels,  after  they  are  pointed 
,  I  must  carry  my  news  to  another  market." 

And  with  these  words  Smith  left  the  room,  although  he 
<ad  return,  poking  his  head  in  at  the  door,  and  firing  a 
parting  shot. 

"  I  don't  have  much  hard  feeling  against  Captain  Barn- 
well  because  he's  a  rebel,  bound  to  make  things  tell,  and 
put  money  in  his  pocket,  and  it's  all  in  his  line;  but 
when  there  is  a  chance  to  squelch  such  a  man,  it  should  be 
done  at  once." 

He  closed  the  door,  and  was  off;  and  then  Captain 
Switchell  opened  a  bottle  of  claret  that  the  landlord  had 
brought,  filled  the  glasses,  emptied  his  own,  and  re- 
marked, — 

"How  in  the  fiend's  name  did  you  manage  to  escape 
the  blockading  fleet  ?  Ships  were  all  around  you,  I  am 
told ;  and  yet  you  went  through  them  like  .1  race-horse, 
How  was  it  done  ?  That's  what  I  should  like  to  know." 

*'  It  was  through  luck." 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  419 

"  Thunder !  Don't  you  think  that  it  would  have  been 
»  little  better  for  some  of  our  brave  tars  to  have  clapped 
their  paws  on  you,  and  shared  the  prize  money?" 

"  I  can't  say  that  I  see  matters  in  that  light." 

"  If  I  only  knew  how  far  your  instructions  lead  you," 
mused  the  captain,  "  I  might  tell  whether  I  thought  you 
had  done  wrong  or  right." 

The  captain  wanted  to  discover  if  I  had  authority  for 
doing  what  I  had  done  ;  just  the  information  I  did  not 
wish  him  to  possess. 

"  The  end  more  than  justified  the  means,"  I  answeied  , 
"  so  we  will  not  discuss  the  subject.  Mr.  Reefpoint  tells 
me,"  I .  continued,  changing  the  conversation,  "  that  the 
information  he  was  enabled  to  bring  did  good  service  to 
the  Federal  fleet." 

"  I  believe  you,  my  boy.  Without  it  we  should  have 
had  to  raise  the  blockade  ;  for  we  should  have  been  taken 
by  surprise." 

"  I  hope  you  will  impress  upon  the  navy  department 
the  distinguished  services  of  Mr.  Reefpoint.  I  tell  you,  in 
his  presence,  he  displayed  a  gallantry  and  courage,  while 
in  Charleston,  that  should  entitle  him  to  promotion.  He 
put  his  head  into  a  noose,  and  deserves  thanks  and  grati- 
tude for  getting  it  out  safe." 

"  And  what  do  you  deserve  for  the  risk  you  have  run?  " 
demanded  Captain  Switchell. 

"  O,  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  I  shall  be  rewarded  in 
the  course  of  time,"  was  my  indifferent  answer. 

•'  Well,  I  hope  so ;  although  promotion  ain't  rapid  in 
the  United  States  navy.  But,  to  come  home,  and  talk  of 
other  matters,  do  you  know  what  I  was  sent  here  for  ?  " 

"  I  imagine  that  it  is  for  the  purpose  of  receiving 
some  despatches  which  my  ship  was  to  bring  from 
Charleston." 

"  Yes  :  mighty  important  things  I  was  told,  they  were." 


420  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

"  And  have  you  got  them  ?  " 

"  No  ;  and  what  is  more,  Smith,  who  shipped  with  you 
for  the  purpose  of  stealing  (hem,  did  manage  to  secure 
them,  but  lost  all  in  some  unaccountable  manner.  So  I 
made  the  trip  to  this  den  ci'  sympathizers  for  nothing." 

"  I  am  sorry  for  it." 

"  So  am  I ;  for  it  would  have  been  a  feather  in  my  cap, 
I  assure  you.  Certain  promotion  would  have  been  the  re- 
sult of  placing  those  despatches  in  the  hands  of  Mr. 
Welles." 

"  Then  I  don't  think  that  I  would  despair.  If  you 
will  promise  that  you  will  do  all  in  your  power  to  get  Mr. 
Reefpoiut  a  lieutenant's  commission  —  " 

"  O,  kind  and  generous-hearted  friend  !  "  murmured  the 
midshipman,  with  a  voice  choked  with  emotion. 

"  I  will  place  those  coveted  despatches  in  your  hands 
between  now  and  sundown,"  I  said,  finishing  the  remark 
which  I  had  commenced,  and  which  Mr.  Reefpoint  had 
prevented  me  from  completing. 

"  Hang  me  if  I  don't  do  it !  "  cried  the  hearty  sailor 
in  a  burst  of  enthusiasm.  "  Give  me  the  documents  ;  and 
I'll  stir  heaven  and  earth  but  the  lad  shall  have  his  swab. 
And  now  tell  me  how  it  is  to  be  done." 

"  Ask  no  questions,  but  meet  me  here  this  afternoon, 
and  you  shall  have  the  papers." 

"  I'll  do  it ;  and  an  hour  after  they  are  in  my  hands,  1 
shall  steam  out  of  the  harbor." 

And,  with  this  assurance,  Captain  Switchell  and  I  shook 
hands,  and  parted  ;  and  then  I  had  a  chance  to  exchango 
a  few  more  words  with  Reefpoint. 

"  You  will  soon  be  home,"  I  said,  "  and  perhaps  will 
have  a  chance  to  run  on  to  Boston.  If  you  do,  see  Miss 
Blank,  and  tell  her  that  she  is  not  entirely  forgotten. 
Speak  as  well  of  me  as  you  can,  but  do  not  hint  to  hat 
that  I  have  been  blockade-running." 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  421 

"  I  understand.  Everything  shall  be  made  lovely  as 
far  as  you  are  concerned." 

"  And  do  not  distress  the  young  lady  with  the  knowl- 
edge that  her  father  is  running  any  risks  for  the  sake  of 
adding  to  his  fortune." 

"You  can  be  assured  of  that.  I  like  my  cousin  too 
well  to  say  one  word  to  her  that  would  cause  her  the 
least  uneasiness.  She  is  one  of  the  best  girls  I  ever  saw  ; 
and  I  hope  will  look  with  favoring  eyes  upon  a  certain 
gentleman  whose  kindness  I  shan't  forget  in  a  hurry." 

And  with  a  smile  the  lad  turned  away,  and  I  hastened 
on  board  the  Belle. "  The  first  person  'I  met  was  Bow- 
mount,  who  was,  to  my  surprise,  perfectly  sober. 

"  Look  a-here,  old  fellow,"  he  said,  "  I've  sold  all  the 
cotton  at  a  big  figure,  cash  down,  on  the  nail,  and  all  in 
gold.  We  shall  make  a  big  vige,  —  the  best  one  that  ever 
entered  the  port,  by  all  odds ;  and  I  tell  you,  Barn  well, 
dog  on  me,  if  I  don't  feel  as  though  I  had  almost  got 
enough.  Shucks  !  you  may  think  that  I'm  jokin' ;  but  it's 
the  case." 

I  did  not  reply  to  the  remark,  but  thought  that  I  would 
let  theKentuckian  take  his  own  course  until  I  got  ready 
to  lay  out  mine,  which  was  already  defined  in  my  own 
mind.  However,  just  as  Bowmount  was  about  to  explain, 
a  shore  boat  ran  alongside ;  and  up  the  accommodation- 
ladder  came  a  gentleman,  who,  after  he  reached  the  deck, 
I  recognized  as  Mr.  Gowen,  the  husband  of  my  hand- 
some cabin  passenger. 

"  Your  sarvant,  sir,"  said  Bowmount.  "  This  is  an  un- 
expected pleasure,  sir.  What  can  we  do  for  you,  sir  ?  " 

"  I  hear  that  Mrs.  Gowen  is  on  board  ;  and  I  have  come 
to  see  if  such  is  the  case.  Business  called  me  most  unex- 
pectedly from  Nassau  to  Bermuda  ;  but  I  did  not  think 
of  meeting  my  wife  here." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  the  lady  is  on  board.    And  delighted  enough 


422  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

she  will  be  to  see  you.  Shucks  I  she'll  be  so  pleased 
she'll  shed  tears  of  joy." 

And  the  Kentuckian,  with  a  sneer  on  his  lips,  and  a 
smile  on  his  face,  lighted  a  cigar,  and  walked  aft,  leaving 
Mr.  Gowen  a  little  unsatisfied  with  the  position  of  affairs  ; 
for  he  turned  to  me,  and  said,  — 

"  Will  you  let  the  steward  announce  that  I  am  on 
board?"  * 

"  Certainly." 

One  of  the  stewards  happened  to  come  aft  just  at  that 
moment ;  so  I  told  him  to  tell  Mrs.  Gowen  that  her  hus- 
band desired  to  see  her. 

Five,  ten  minutes  elapsed,  and  still  the  lady  did  not  ap- 
pear on  deck.  Mr.  Gowen  manifested  some  impatience. 
He  could  not  keep  still,  but  wandered  about  in  a  listless 
manner.  At  length,  seeing  that  he  was  growing  angry, 
I  entered  the  lower  cabin  to  speak  to  the  lady,  and  found 
her  on  her  knees,  her  head  on  a  table,  weeping  most  bit- 
terly, while  her  servant  was  addressing  the  mistress  in 
words  of  comfort  and  encouragement. 

"  Missus  feels  powerful  bad,  sar,"  said  the  negro  ser- 
vant, who  had  accompanied  Mrs.  Gowen  from  Charleston, 
and  really  loved  the  lady. 

"  For  what  reason  ?  " 

"  Can  you  ask  ?  "  demanded  the  lady ;  and  she  raised 
her  tear-stained  eyes  to  my  face.  "  Mr.  Gowen  is  here  to 
claim  me.  He  will  insist  that  I  shall  accompany  him,  and 
live  with  him." 

"  He  is  your  husband,"  I  said.  "  You  must  see  him. 
He  is  impatient  for  an  interview." 

"  I  suppose  that  I  must  meet  him,"  she  sighed. 

"  Then  wipe  your  eyes,  and  go  on  deck,  and  greet 
Mr.  Gowen ;  or  would  you  prefer  to  see  him  in  the 
cabin?" 

"  In  the  cabin,"  she  replied  ;  and  then,  by  the  aid  of  a 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  428 

damp  towel,  she  removed  the  traces  of  tears,  and  motioned 
to  me  that  she  was  ready  for  the  interview. 

"  You  will  remain  near  me,  and  protect  me  if  violence 
is  offered,"  Mrs.  Gowen  said,  as  we  entered  the  outer 
cabin. 

"  If  you  wish  it,  yes." 

"  I  do  wish  it.  Mr.  Gowen  has  a  most  ungovernable 
temper.  He  is  accustomed  to  have  his  own  way  ;  and  the 
least  opposition  makes  him  furious.  Remain  near  me  and 
save  me  from  violence." 

"  I  will.  And  woe  be  to  him  if  he  offers  the  least  rude- 
ness." 

I  left  her  in  the  cabin,  and  went  on  deck. 

"  Mrs.  Gowen  is  ready  to  see  you,"  I  said. 

"  Well,  she  was  a  long  time  about  it,"  was  his  reply. 

And  into  the  cabin  he  went,  I  following  close  to  his 
heels. 

"  Magnolia  !  "  he  cried,  and  opened  his  arms ;  but  she 
did  not  rise  from  her  chair  to  receive  him. 

He  suddenly  stopped,  and  looked  at  her  in  a  surly 
manner. 

"  What  kind  of  a  reception  is  this?  "  he  asked.  "  What 
does  it  mean  ?  " 

"  It  means  that  I  can  no  longer  live  with  you  as  your 
wife,"  was  the  answer,  delivered  in  a  firm  tone,  but  with- 
out the  least  display  of  passion. 

"  Magnolia,"  he  said,  after  a  moment's  silence,  "  are  you 
aware  of  what  you  are  saying  ?  Have  you  considered  the 
whole  matter  ?  " 

"Yes:  I  have  considered  all  things.  I  have  done  but 
little  more  than  think  of  my  past  life  during  the  last  two 
weeks." 

"You  are  mad,"  Mr.  Gowen  said,  in  a  tone  that  was 
deep  and  stern  ;  "  utterly  mad  and  foolish." 

"  No,  I  am  in  my  senses,  if  I  ever  was,"  she  answered, 
in  a  low  tone. 


424  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

I  did  not  like  to  remain,  and  listen  to  their  conversation ; 
yet  I  had  promised  to  be  present  during  the  interview,  so 
that  I  could  assist  her,  in  case  her  husband  gave  way  to 
his  usual  sudden  bursts  of  passion,  which  only  a  resolute 
man  could  encounter.  Neither  party  seemed  to  take  the 
least  notice  of  me.  I  retreated,  and  entered  my  state- 
room, leaving  the  door  open,  and  ready  to  go  to  the 
lady's  assistance,  in  case  she  required  it.  From  the  posi- 
tion which  I  occupied  I  could  hear  all  that  passed,  and  see 
the  parties  at  the  same  time. 

"  No,"  answered  the  lady,  with  a  grave  smile,  and  a 
Bad  shake  of  her  head  ;  "  I  am  not  mad  now :  but  I  have 
been  nearly  mad  for  three  long  years." 

"  Well,  then,  what  is  to  be  the  final  result  of  all  this 
nonsense?  Do  }TOU  expect  me  to  put  up  with  it?"  de- 
manded the  man  impatiently." 

"  No ;  I  expect  nothing  at  your  hands.  If  we  separate, 
it  will  be  in  peace,  and  without  promises  on  either  side." 

"  And  how  do  you  expect  to  live  without  my  aid  ?  " 

"  I  can  work.  I  am  a  good  musician,  can  embroider, 
teach  French,  school,  or  even  play  the  nursery  maid." 

"  All  very  fine ;  but  you  can't  return  to  the  South. 
You  know  that  if  you  did,  I  could  detain  you  at  any  time 
we  chanced  to  meet." 

"  And  would  you  do  so  ?  "  she  demanded. 

"I  would." 

"  Then  I  will  go  North,  where  protection  is  afforded  all 
such  unhappy  creatures  as  I  am." 

"  But  you  can't  go  without  revealing  your  secret." 

"Would  you  reveal  it?"  demanded  the  lady,  with 
more  excitement  than  she  had  yet  manifested. 

"  I  would,  so  help  me  Heaven  !  " 

"  Have  you  no  mercy  ?  "  pleaded  the  lady. 

And  I  thought  her  voice  was  tremulous,  as  though  her 
eyes  were  filled  with  tears. 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  426 

"  None  in  this  respect.  You  have  resolved  to  leave  me  ; 
and  I  am  resolved  to  keep  you  if  possible,  even  if  I  have 
to  make  a  clean  breast  of  it." 

"  O,  my  Go'd  !  "  the  lady  cried,  and  wrung  her  hands,  as 
if  with  the  most  bitter  anguish. 

"  Besides,  you  must  remember  that  I  have  the  law  to 
aid  me  ;  and  even  in  these  islands  the  law  is  powerful, 
and  has  a  powerful  arm." 

"  But  the  law  is  powerless  in  your  case,"  said  a  deep 
bass  voice. 

And  into  the  cabin  walked  the  Kentuckian,  with  such 
a  look  upon  his  face  that  even  I  was  surprised  at  its 
expression. 

For  a  moment  the  lady  and  gentleman  were  too  aston- 
ished to  speak  ;  but  at  last  Mr.  Gowen,  who  still  remem- 
bered the  treatment  which  he  had  experienced  at  the 
hands  of  Bowmount  at  Nassau,  and,  therefore,  feared  his 
evil  temper,  spoke :  — 

"  I  am  talking  to  my  wife,  sir.,  and  requesting  her  to 
go  with  me.  In  a  few  minutes  we  will  have  left  your 
vessel." 

"  That  is,  if  the  woman  is  willing,"  said  the  Kentuck- 
ian. "  If  she  ain't  willin',  shucks !  you  know  she  can't 

go." 

"  Then  Mrs.  Gowen  will  speedily  tell  you  that  she  is 
anxious  to  go  on  with  me.  Speak,  my  dear,  and  let  him 
hbc»r  such  words  from  your  own  lips." 

"  Yes  ;  I'd  like  to  hear  'em." 

And  the  Kentuckian  canted  his  head  one  side,  as  if  to 
listen. 

"  I  do  not  wish  to  go  with  Mr.  Gowen,"  the  lady  said, 
in  a  tone  so  distinct  and  firm  that  no  one  could  misunder- 
stand her. 

"  Then  you  shall  go  with  me,"  said  the  husband,  in  a 
rage.  "  I'll  let  voulmow  that  I'm  master,  and  that  I  wilj 


426  RUNN-ING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

be  obeyed.  You  belong  to  me  ;  and  I  will  have  you,  if  1 
have  to  spend  ten  thousand  dollars  in  the  effort." 

"  Softly,"  cried  the  Kentuckian.  "  Let's  see  how  you 
is  going  to  get  her  from  this  ship  unless  she  is  a  mind  to 
go.  Barnwell,"  he  continued,  calling  me  from  the  state- 
room, "  come  here,  and  see  about  this." 

"  He  must  hear  all,  know  all,"  said  the  Kentuckian,  in 
a  low,  firm  tone.  "  I  have  kept  your  secret  most  faith- 
fully, even  from  a  man  what  I  likes  as  well  as  if  he  was 
my  own  brother,  father,  wife,  or  children,  all  crowded  into 
one.  Now  it  must  come  out ;  'cos  why,  it's  the  only  way 
to  save  you." 

And  then  he  turned  to  Mr.  Gowen,  and  continued :  — 

"  You  say  that  this  woman  is  yer  wife  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  I  claim  her  as  such." 

"  Very  good.  Jist  fork  over  yer  sartificate,  so  that  I 
can  tell  if  yer  was  married  in  form." 

"  I  have  no  certificate  with  me." 

"  Whar  was  yer  married  ?  "  demanded  the  Kentuckian. 

"  Is  that  any  of  your  business?  "  Mr.  Gowen  asked. 

"  Never  you  mind.  You  jist  answer  all  the  questions 
what  I  puts  to  you.  Now,  whar  was  you  married  ?  " 

"  O,  save  me  !  spare  me  !  "  moaned  the  lady. 

"  I  shall  not  answer  the  question,"  was  the  sullen  re- 
joinder. 

"  Very  well.  Then  you  needn't.  We  comes,  now,  to 
the  next  p'int.  What  was  the  name  of  the  parson  what 
married  you  ?  Come,  I  knows  most  all  the  parsons  in 
Georgia ;  and  if  you  tell  me,  I  may  recollect  his  name." 

Another  sob  from  Mrs.  Gowen,  and  a  sullen  look  from 
the  husband. 

"  You  won't  tell  ?  "  demanded  the  Kentuckian.  "  O, 
very  well.  How  does  you  s'pose  that  you  can  get  your 
wife  unless  you  prove  that  she  is  your  wife  ?  " 

«•  By  the  law." 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  427 

"  The  law  be  hanged  !  You  jist  try  it  on,  and  see  how 
yon  makes  it.'  I've  had  some  experience  in  law,  during 
my  long  and  eventful  life  ;  and  I  know  that  the  law  won't 
affect  you  much." 

"  A  writ  of  habeas  corpus  will  not  be  disregarded  on 
board  this  vessel,  I  take  it,"  Mr.  Go  wen  intimated. 

"  Jist  try  it  on,  and  see,"  was  the  reply.  "  You  bring 
your  habeas  corpus  on  board  this  ship,  and  you'll  find  more 
than  one  corpse  round  here,  now  I  tell  you.  I  don't  want 
to  be  violent,  'cos  I'm  in  a  friendly  and  neutral  port ;  but 
hang  me  if  you  wouldn't  see  sights  arter  you  shake  a  law 
paper  in  my  face.  But  few  men  would  dare  do  it,  even 
in  old  Kentuck  ;  and  that  is  a  State  what  can  show  some 
tough  cases." 

"  I  don't  wish  to  provoke  your  ire,"  said  Mr.  Gowen,  in 
a  tone  that  was  intended  to  be  conciliatory  ;  "  but  you 
must  acknowledge  that  I  want  my  wife." 

"  We  admit  that,"  the  Kentuckian  said  ;  "  but  prove  to 
us  that  the  woman  is  your  wife." 

"  Spare  me  I  O,  spare  me  !  "  murmured  the  lady. 

And  she  cast  upon  me  such  a  look  of  anguish  that  I 
pitied  her,  and  would  have  saved  her  feelings  if  it  had 
been  possible. 

"  We  has  opened  the  sore,"  cried  the  Kentuckian ; 
"  and  now  we  must  cleanse  it,  even  if  we  does  cause 
pain.  It  is  the  best  thing  that  we  can  do.  Don't  you 
think  so,  mum  ?  "  addressing  Mrs.  Gowen. 

"  God  only  knows  !  I  don't,"  was  the  subdued  answer. 

"  Mr.  Gowen,"  said  Bowmount,  "  you  had  better  go  on 
shore,  and  let  the  woman  take  what  course  she  sees 
proper  to  take.  She  don't  seem  to  have  much  love  for 
you  ,  so  it  is  better  that  you  should  part." 

"  You  have  a  cool  way  of  separating  man  and  wife,"  re- 
torted the  visitor. 

"  O,  shucks  I  "  cried  the  Kentuckian,  in  a  tone  of  con- 


428  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

tempt.  "  This  thing  has  been  goin'  on  long  enough.  I 
can't  hold  in  no  longer,  no  how.  I  didn't  want  to  spenk 
it ;  but  you  know  that  you  ain't  married  to  this  woman  at 
all ;  now  don't  you  ?  " 

A  wild  shriek  on  the  part  of  the  lady,  and  her  hands 
went  up  to  her  face  ;  and  then  both  hands  and  face  were 
buried  in  her  lap  ;  but  the  sobs  which  she  uttered  were 
like  stabs  in  my  heart ;  and  I  would  have  gone  forward, 
and  assisted  her,  in  spite  of  my  surprise,  if  Bowmount  had 
not  motioned  me  to  remain  where  I  was. 

"  I  don't  like  to  see  a  woman  cry,  or  hear  one  cry,"  the 
Kentuckian  continued ;  "  but  in  this  instance  I  must 
speak,  'cos  it  is  for  the  good  of  all  of  yer." 

While  the  Kentuckian  was  speaking,  I  stole  a  look  at 
Gowen's  face,  and  saw  that  it  did  not  manifest  that  indig- 
nation which  would  have  appeared  had  the  words  uttered 
a  moment  before  been  false.  He  seemed  a  little  surprised, 
but  nothing  more. 

"  You  have  made  a  grave  statement,"  Mr.  Go  wen  said. 
"  Perhaps  you  can't  prove  it." 

"  By  your  own  lips  will  I  prove  it.  I  didn't  want  to 
let  on  about  it,  dog  on  me  if  I  did !  but  when  you  talk 
of  takin'  the  woman  out  of  N  the  ship  by  a  corpus,  then  it's 
tune  for  me  to  talk,  and  to  talk  to  the  p'int,  now  I  tell 
yer." 

"  The  woman  is  mine,  —  my  wife,"  said  Mr.  Gowen. 

"  O,  what  a  lie  !  Come,  your  game  is  up.  The  rig  is 
run  out.  The  woman  is  free  to  go  or  stay,  just  as  she 
pleases." 

"  She  is  not  free  to  do  as  she  pleases,"  responded  Mr. 
Gowen. 

"  Don't  you  provoke  me,  old  feller ;  'cos  I  can't  stand 
it.  I'm  as  playful  as  a  kitten  ;  but  hang  me  if  I  stand 
everything !  " 

Suddenly  Mrs.  Gowen  arose,  and  looked  as  though  she 
had  made  up  her  mind  on  an  important  subject. 


•'SHE  IS  MY  SLAVE." -Page  489. 


RUNNING   THE  BLOCKADE.  429 

"  There  is  no  need  of  quarrelling  about  me,"  she  said. 
"  I'm  not  worth  the  hot  words  which  you  would  utter. 
Don't  let  my  presence  be  the  means  of  involving  you  in 
trouble.  I  will  go  on  shore,  and  end  the  strife." 

"  Well  said  !  "  cried  Mr.  Go  wen.  "  I  knew  you  wouldn't 
desert  me,  Magnolia." 

"  It  is  not  well  said,"  the  Kentuckian  remarked.  "  Shi 
don't  utter  them  words  'cos  she  wants  to  go ;  and,  by  the 
living  jingo  I  she  shan't  go.  I  say  that,  and  I  mean  it." 

"  You  must  have  a  greater  claim  on  the  lady  than  my- 
self," Mr.  Gowen  remarked,  "  if  such  is  the  case." 

"  I  haven't  any  claim  on  her  ;  but  I  see  that  she  don't 
want  to  go  with  you,  and  that's  enough.  She  ain't  your 
wife ;  you  will  admit  that." 

"  Well,  suppose  I  do  admit  it  ?  " 

"  And  she  ain't  your  slave,"  persisted  the  Kentuckian. 

Mrs.  Gowen  uttered  sob  after  sob,  and  once  more  cov- 
ered her  face  with  her  hands. 

Mr.  Gowen  looked  at  the  Kentuckian,  and  then,  to  my 
intense  astonishment,  deliberately  said,  — 

"  She  is  my  slave  ;  and  in  my  pocket  I  hold  a  bill  of 
sale,  signed  by  the  heirs  of  old  Colonel  Grantly,  of  Geor- 
gia. You  may  have  heard  of  the  man." 

"  Yes,  I  have  heard  of  him,"  responded  the  Kentuckian, 
in  a  tone  that  sounded  to  me  more  mournful  than  any- 
thing I  ever  heard  from  his  lips. 

As  soon  as  Mr.  Gowen  had  uttered  the  word  "  slave," 
the  lady  dropped  her  head,  and  fell  back,  perfectly  in- 
sensible. I  was  taken  so  much  by  surprise,  so  shocked, 
that  a  minute  or  two  must  have  elapsed  before  I  re- 
gained my  presence  of  mind  and  went  to  her  assistance. 
When  I  did  start  forward,  and  raised  the  poor  thing's 
head,  the  Kentuckian,  with  more  feeling  than  I  ever  gave 
him  credit  for,  remarked,  — 

"  That's  right,  Barn  well.     Handle  her  as  gently  as  you 


430  RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE. 

would  a  two-year-old  colt  that  promises  to  make  a  racer. 
Give  her  a  little  water,  and  then  swab  her  mouth  and 
nostrils  with  some  weak  wine." 

His  advice  showed  that  the  rough  genius  was  more  fa- 
miliai  with  stables  than  a  lady's  boudoir. 

I  did  give  the  lady  some  weak  wine,  and  was  enabled 
to  restore  her ;  but  she  seemed  to  suffer  so  much  that  I 
doubted  whether  I  had  performed  an  act  of  kindness. 

As  soon  as  she  could  speak,  or  even  whisper,  she  loo*ked 
at  me  with  such  a  .nournful  glance  that  it  cut  me  to  the 
heart. 

"  O  God  I  what  will  you  think  of  me  ?  "  she  moaned. 

"  Is  that  man's  statement  true  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  It  is  true,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  am  his  slave.  He 
bought  me  just  as  he  would  a  dog,  or  a  horse.  O,  the 
misery  of  realizing  that  you  can  be  bartered  like  an 
inanimate  thing  !  O,  how  you  must  despise  me  !  " 

"  No ;  far  from  it.  Do  not  think  so  meanly  of  me  a? 
all  that.  If  you  have  been  a  slave,  you  are  one  no  longer. 
From  this  moment  you  are  free." 

"  Yes ;  that's  so,  Barnwell,"  the  Kentuckian  replied. 
"  If  she  was  never  free  afore,  she  is  now." 

"  Let  him  relate  my  whole  history,  or  what  he  knows 
of  it ;  then  you  will  see  that  I  have  been  wicked,  but  not 
voluntarily,"  Magnolia  said. 

"  I'll  do  it ;  'cos  I  know  it  will  interest  Barnwell  and 
the  man  what  claims  her.  Hey,  Gowen?  Well,  don't 
get  mad,  and  tear  yer  shirt ;  'cos  it's  no  use.  You  jist 
listen  to  me,  and  be  edicated  and  enlightened." 

Mr.  Gowen  made  a  motion  of  impatience ;  but  it  did 
not  affect  the  Kentuckian,  who  lighted  a  cigar,  in  the 
most  deliberate  manner,  as  though  through  its  aid  his 
thoughts  would  flow  more  freely,  and  he  could  tell  his 
story  with  less  embarrassment. 

"  Now,"  said  Bowinount,  after  taking  one  or  two  puffs 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  431 

at  the  cigar,  and  finding  it  was  well  lighted,  "  I  am  alJ 
ready  to  begin  my  yarn.  Six  years  ago,  I  think,  while 
I  was  in  South  Carolina  on  business,  selling  mules  and 
other  truck,  and  pickin'  up  money  here  and  there,  I  saw 
there  was  to  be  an  auction  sale  at  a  plantation  some  ten 
miles  from  Charleston.  So  I  thought  I'd  go  and  see  if  I 
could  make  a  thousand  dollars,  buying  stock  or  land. 
When  I  got  to  the  plantation,  there  warn't  many  people 
there,  for  some  reason  or  other ;  and  I  thought  I  should 
have  some  nice  bargains  ;  but,  shucks !  there  warn't  any 
thing  worth  pickin'  up,  except  a  few  slaves,  and  them  I 
didn't  want.  In  fact,  the  old  plantation  was  all  run  out, 
'cos  the  owner  and  his  sons  had  paid  more  attention  to 
whiskey  drinkin'  and  hoss-racin'  than  to  cultivatin'  cot- 
ton and  rice." 

The  Kentuckian  puffed  away  at  his  cigar  for  a  moment, 
while  the  rest  of  us  remained  silent,  anxious  listeners  to 
his  story, 

"  Wall,  you  see,"  the  Kentuckian  continued,  "  I  didn't 
want  to  buy  the  niggers,  'cos  none  of  'em  was  promisin' ; 
and  I  was  jist  about  to  mount  my  hoss,  and.  go  back  to 
the  city,  when  the  auctioneer  said  that  he  had  a  prize  to 
offer,  and  we  had  better  stay  and  see  it.  I  did  remain ; 
but  most  of  the  fellers  cut  off,  and  raced  their  horses  back 
to  town." 

Another  puff  of  the  cigar,  and  a  sob  from  Magnolia. 

"  Arter  I  had  waited  a  bit,  the  auctioneer  led  for'ard  a 
little  girl,  not  more'n  fourteen  years  of  age,  and  as  white 
as  I  am." 

I  looked  at  the  Kentuckian,  and  did  not  think  that 
indorsement  amounted  to  much ;  for  Bowmount  was 
dark  and  bilious.  Another  sob,  still  more  violent  from 
Magnolia. 

"  I  liked  the  looks  of  the  little  thing,"  continued  Bow- 
mount  ;  "  for  she  appeared  so  innocent  like,  so  timid,  and 
29 


482  RUIINiNG  THE  BLOCKADE. 

the  cried  like  a  little  baby.  I  saw  at  a  glance  that  she 
was  white  as  the  darter  of  the  owner  of  the  place,  and  I 
s'posed  that  he  wouldn't  let  her  be  bid  on  ,  but  the  chap 
hadn't  any  heart ;  for  the  auctioneer  said  she  must  be 
sold,  and  axed  for  an  offer." 

Another  long  pause,  and  a  more  vigorous  puffing  of  the 
cigar.  Magnolia  still  bowed  her  head,  and  listened  to  the 
Kentuckian's  yarn. 

"  An  old  chap,  what  didn't  look  none  too  good,"  con- 
tinued the  Kentuckian,  "  bid  one  thousand  dollars  for  the 
child  ;  and  then  I  called  fifteen  hundred,  and  the  other 
chap  two  thousand,  and  that  made  me  mad.  The  old 
Kentuck  blood  began  to  tell.  I  looked  at  the  pretty  little 
gal,  and  thought  that  I  would  go  it  blind  but  I  would 
have  her  ;  so  I  jist  called  out  three  thousand  dollars,  and 
that  brought  her.  The  old  cuss  couldn't  rake  down  the 
pile.  She  was  mine." 

Another  long  puff,  and  a  sob  from  Magnolia. 

"  The  gal  what  I  bought  that  day  now  sets  there. 
She's  a  woman,  u  >w,  and  can  tell  if  I  warn't  a  kind  mas- 
ter. Speak,  Magnolia,  and  let  'em  hear  the  words  from 
yer  own  lips." 

"  You  were  always  kind  to  me,"  she  managed  to  say. 

"  Thank  you  for  that,  Magnolia.  If  I  waru't  kind  to 
you,  I'm  sure  I  tried  to  be,  in  my  own  rough  way ;  al- 
though when  we  first  met,  at  the  dinner  table  at  Nassau, 
when  you  riled  me,  by  sneering  at  the  Yankees,  I  did  cut 
up  kinder  strong ;  'cos  I  didn't  know  you  then,  and  I 
reckon  you  didn't  know  me.  You  had  kinder  outgrown 
me.  Wasn't  that  so  ?" 

"Yes,"  the  lady  murmured.  "I  did  not  once  think 
of  you  until  you  had  smashed  the  glass  in  Mr.  Gowen'a 
face." 

"  Well,  we'll  let  them  things  go ;  and  I'll  finish  my 
yarn.  You  know,  Magnolia,  that  arter  I  had  bought  you, 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  433 

and  paid  for  you,  I  didn't  know  what  to  do  with  you.  I 
didn't  have  no  wife,  and  so  couldn't  let  you  tend  her  ; 
so  as  I  didn't  have  no  gals  of  my  own  to  look  after,  I 
kinder  thought  I'd  treat  her  as  if  she  was  rny  child. 
Barnwell,  I'm  rough  and  tough,  but  I  ain't  quite  so  bad 
as  some  men,  now  is  I  ?  " 

"  No,  I  don't  think  you  are,"  was  the  response. 

"  Thank  you  for  that.  It  kinder  does  a  man  good,  some- 
times, to  have  a  compliment.  It  tickles  him  almost  as 
much  as  a  young  gal  what  has  jist  got  her  fust  real  live 
lover.  But  let  us  haul  up  on  the  track,  and  trot  back  to 
the  subject.  And  I  suppose  most  of  it  is  new  to  Mr. 
Gowen." 

"  Yes,  it  is,"  responded  that  gentleman,  who  had  lis- 
tened with  much  patience  to  the  narrative. 

"  So  I  thought ;  and  I'll  amble  on.  Wall,  I  took  the 
gal  with  me  to  Charleston  ;  and  I  said  to  a  woman  what 
cut  out  clothes,  and  sich  fixens  for  gals,  to  dress  her  up  in 
all  that  was  needed  to  make  her  comfortable  and  nice. 
And  that  woman  did  it ;  and  when  she  was  dressed,  she 
looked  nice  enough  to  be  the  darter  of  the  best  white  man 
in  the  land,  and  I  had  many  a  chap  ax  me  if  she  was  my 
own  child,  and  if  she  had,  I'd  been  proud  of  her,  now  I 
tell  yer.  You  remember,  don't  you,  Magnolia?  " 

"  Yes,"  in  a  faint  whisper. 

"  Well,  arter  she  was  dressed,  I  took  her  to  old  Ken- 
tuck  ;  and  then  I  sent  her  to  school,  where  she  had  music, 
and  all  manner  of  sich  like  advantages.  She  studied  for  a 
year ;  and  she  jumped  ahead,  in  all  manner  of  larnin', 
like  a  young  colt  what  has  just  been  trained.  O  !  she 
was  a  wonder,  now  I  tell  yer." 

The  Kentuckian  lighted  a  fresh  cigar,  smoked  for  a  few 
minutes  in  silence,  and  then  resumed  :  — 

"  Now  comes  the  worst  part  of  my  yarn,  and  the  onlj 
portion  I'm  ashamed  of.  One  day,  a  Mr.  Dabney,  of 


434  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

Georgia,  an  old  man,  and  I  believe  a  good  one,  was  visiting 
me ;  and  he  seed  Magnolia.  He  said  that  he  took  a 
fatherly  likin'  to  the  gal,  and  wanted  her.  He  would 
give  me  twice  what  I  had  paid  for  her ;  'cos  he  wanted 
her  for  his  daughter,  only  as  a  companion.  I  refused ;  but 
the  old  gentleman  kept  urging,  and,  at  last,  agreed  to 
give  me  five  thousand  dollars  for  the  gal;  and  then  he 
swore  a  solemn  oath  that  when  she  was  eighteen  years  of 
age  he  would  let  her  free,  and  give  her  a  start  in  the 
world,  or,  if  he  died  before  that,  he  would  leave  her  free 
papers  where  ;  would  find  'em.  And,  on  these  terms,  I 
let  her  go  ;  I]  it  almost  broke  my  heart  to  do  it ;  and  I 
believe  that '  gal  shed  some  tears  at  partin'  —  didn't  you, 
Magnolia  ? ' 

"  Yes ;  I  o^n  remember  the  time,  and  the  tears  that  I 
shed,"  was  the  answer. 

"  I  has  no  doubt  of  it.  Let  me  tell  you  that  you  is  the 
last  one,  woman,  or  child,  that  I  ever  sold,  or  ever  wanted 
to,  now  I  tell  yer.  But  you  went  with  Mr.  Dabney,  and 
he  done  well  by  yer  —  now  didn't  he  ?  " 

"  He  was  kind  and  fatherly,  and  sent  me  to  school,  even 
to  a  Northern  school  with  his  daughter,  where  I  passed  as 
her  sister,  and  his  child ;  but  he  died  suddenly,  and  did 
not  leave  me  free,  as  he  intended." 

"Just  so,"  the  Kentuckian  cried.  "It  was  imprudent 
on  the  part  of  Dabney ;  'cos  he  was  a  good  man,  and 
meant  what  he  said.  He  thought  that  he  was  long-lived , 
but  whiskey  and  high  living  takes  off  the  strongest  of  us, 
and  don't  stop  to  ax  questions.  Well,  Magnolia,  s'pose 
you  tell  what  remains.  You  can  do  it  much  better  than  I 
can." 

"  When  the  estate  was  settled,  by  Mr.  Dabney's  eldest 
son,"  the  lady  said,  "I  was  offered  for  sale,  like  the  rest 
of  the  slaves  on  the  plantation,  and  like  the  cattle  and 
horses.  I  was  put  upon  the  auction  block,  and  sold  like 
a  bale  of  cotton." 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  435 

Another  passionate  burst  of  grief,  and  not  a  heart  in 
that  cabin  but  felt  for  the  sufferings  of  the  poor  girl. 

It  was  a  long  time  before  Magnolia  could  command  her 
voice  sufficiently  to  continue  her  narrative  ;  and  it  was 
only  after  I  had  forced  a  glass  of  wine  upon  her  that  she 
could  compose  herself  to  proceed,  and  relate  the  remaining 
facts  connected  with  her  life.  Twice  she  attempted  to 
speak,  and  twice  she  failed  to  accomplish  the  task  that  she 
had  entered  upon.  Mr.  Go  wen,  who  appeared  to  feel  for 
one  whom  he  had  called  wife  for  some  years,  noticed  her 
distress,  and  came  to  her  aid. 

"  Let  me  relate  how  we  became  acquainted,"  he  said. 
"  As  long  as  so  much  is  known,  it  is  best  that  the 
rest  should  also  bo  told.  Have  I  your  permission,  Mag- 
nolia?" 

She  made  a  gesture  of  assent,  and  Mr.  Gowen  con- 
tinued :  — 

"  On  the  day  that  Mr.  Dabney's  slaves  were  sold,  I 
attended  the  sale  ;  for  I  had  heard  that  a  girl  of  marvellous 
beauty  was  to  be  disposed  of  by  young  Mr.  Dabney,  who, 
in  a  moment  of  miserly  rage  and  ugliness,  had  disregarded 
his  father's  well-known  wishes,  and  his  sister's  tears  and 
entreaties.  He  was  determined  that  the  girl  should  be 
sold ;  and,  for  fear  that  his  sister  would  interfere  at  the 
last  moment,  he  sent  her  off  to  a  distant  part  of  Georgia, 
.on  some  pretext  or  other." 

"  He  was  a  likely  pup,"  muttered  the  blunt  Keutuckian. 
"  I'd  like  to  have  cracked  his  head  for  him,  I  would." 

"  He  was  punished.  He  fell  at  Bull  Run,"  Mr.  Gowen 
said. 

"  God  bless  the  Yankee  that  fired  the  bullet  that  killed 
the  mean  chap  that  would  sell  a  gal  agin  his  dead  father's 
wishes  I  "  reverently  responded  Bowmount. 

Mr.  Gowen  resumed  his  story,  which  we  were  all  inter- 
ested in. 


436  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  There  was  a  large  attendance  at  the  sale,  for  it  was 
noised  abroad  that  Magnolia  was  to  be  disposed  of ;  and 
many  young  men,  and  some  old  ones,  desired  the  prize  if 
it  did  not  go  too  high.  I  won't  weary  you  by  telling  you 
how  impatient  we  were  until  the  chief  attraction  was  put 
up,  and  her  good  qualities  paraded  to  an  appreciating 
audience.  You  remember,  Magnolia?" 

"  O  God  !  shall  I  ever  forget  that  moment  ?  "  the  lady 
ejaculated.  "  Shall  I  ever  forget  the  horror  of  standing 
up  on  a  block,  before  an  eager,  gaping  crowd,  and  told  to 
exhibit  my  good  points  ?  " 

"  Your  blushes  of  shame  showed  that  you  felt  the  posi- 
tion," Mr.  Gowen  said ;  "  but  all  appearance  of  modesty 
only  caused  your  audience  to  inwardly  vow  that  they 
would  bid  higher  than  they  intended  to  for  the  purpose 
of  receiving  the  prize." 

"  I  wish  I'd  been  thar.  I'd  have  had  a  cut  at  'em,  if  it 
cost  me  my  life,"  muttered  Bowmount. 

"  After  all  the  good  points  which  Magnolia  possessed 
had  been  pointed  out,  the  sale  commenced ;  and  the  first 
bid  was  for  two  thousand  dollars,  then  three,  then  four, 
then  four  thousand  five  hundred,  and  so  on,  until  she  was 
knocked  down  to  me  at  six  thousand  dollars.  But  she  did 
not  hear  the  final  bid,  for  the  girl  fainted  before  it  was 
offered ;  and,  when  she  revived,  the  crowd  had  dispersed, 
not  until  I  had  received  the  congratulations  of  my  friends, 
and  an  advance  offered  on  the  price  that  I  had  given, 
from  a  negro  trader,  who  could  have  made  a  pile  on  the 
transaction,  at  New  Orleans,  or  some  other  large  city  at 
the  South.  But  I  was  resolved  not  to  sell  you,  Mag- 
nolia. You  know  I  told  you  that  I  would  not,  as  soon 
as  you  were  able  to  comprehend  me,  and  listen  to  my 
protestations." 

*'  Yes,  I  know,"  murmured  the  lady. 

"  Well,  I  kept  my  word,  did  I  not  ?     When  the  war 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  437 

commenced,  my  wife  died.  Then  I  grew  to  love  you,  Mag- 
nolia, and  determined  to  make  you  my  wife,  if  I  could 
make  a  new  fortune  to  replace  the  one  in  the  Confederacy. 
To  avoid  embarrassment  and  annoyance,  I  gave  you  my 
name  when  we  came  to  Nassau,  and  so  prevented  a 
suspicion  that  you  were  a  slave  ;  even  the  most  rabid  of 
Southern  women  never  suspected  such  a  thing.  I  believe 
your  every  wish  was  gratified  at  Nassau,  Magnolia  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  she  answered ;  "  I  was  almost  contented.  Yoi 
were  kind  to  me." 

"  And  I  trusted  you  —  did  I  not  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  And  you  know  that  I  loved  you,  Magnolia." 

I  could  see,  by  the  lady's  eyes  and  face,  that  Mr.  Gow- 
en's  influence  was  returning ;  that  he  had  touched  her 
heart  by  his  kindness  and  consideration,  even  in  spite 
of  herself. 

"  You  always  said  that  you  did,"  returned  the  lady,  in 
a  low  tone. 

"  Come  with  me,"  said  Bowmount.  "  We  ain't  wanted 
here." 

And  we  left  them. 

An  hour  later  Mr.  Gowen  and  Magnolia  emerged  £rom 
the  cabin.  Both  looked  as  though  they  had  shed  tears, 
yet  on  each  face  was  a  look  of  confidence.  Gowen  came 
towards  me,  and  said,  — 

"  Captain,  we  are  much  obliged  to  you  for  your  kind- 
ness. Will  you  please  to  order  a  boat,  so  that  we  can  be 
Bet  on  shore  ?  " 

"  Is  the  lady  to  go  with  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Of  her  own  free  will  and  accord  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  of  course.' ' 

He  looked  a  little  surprised,  as  though  wondering  what 
I  meant. 


438  RUNNING    THE    BLOCKADE. 

"  Will  you  allow  me  to  speak  with  the  lady  for  one 
moment?  I  wish  to  be  assured  on  that  point." 

"  Certainly,  sir." 

•     I  went  to  Magnolia,  who  was  standing  near  the  cabin 
doors,  her  back  towards  me. 

"  Mrs.  Gowen,"  I  said,  "  do  you  wish  to  leave  the 
steamer?  " 

"  Yes.  I  fled  from  Mr.  Gowen  because  I  feared  his 
Southern  prejudices  would  stand  between  his  love  and 
his  promises  to  make  me  his  wife.  But  I  did  him  injus- 
tice, and  he  is  anxious  to  claim  my  hand  at  once." 

We  then  went  to  the  quarter-deck,  where  Gowen  and 
Bowmount  had  remained. 

"  Well,  Barn  well,  are  you  satisfied?"  asked  the  Ken- 
tuckian. 

"  Perfectly." 

"  They  mean  arnest — don't  they  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  A  regular  hitchin'  affair — hey  ?  " 

"  I  should  think  so." 

"Wall,"  drawled  the  Kentuckian,  "1  ain't  seed  a 
weddin'  for  a  long  time.  I  think  it  would  do  me  good  to 
look  at  one.  S'pose  we  have  one  to-night  ?" 

"  We  have  no  clergyman,"  said  Mr.  Gowen. 

"  0,  I'll  find  one.  All  ships  of  war  have  'em.  Barn- 
well,  jist  take  one  of  the  boats,  and  ax  the  cap'n  of  the 
Stingeree  if  he  will  lend  us  his  parson  to  splice  a  couple." 

I  wanted  to  visit  the  Stingeree,  and  leave  the  import- 
ant papers  I  had  taken  from  the  despatch-bearer,  and 
which  I  had  promised  to  hand  over  on  shore  in  the  course 
of  the  afternoon  or  evening.  Now,  here  was  a  chance. 

"I  will  return  with  the  parson  in  fifteen  minutes,"  I  said. 

And,after  diving  into  the  cabin,  and  securing  the  papers, 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  439 

I  was  pulled  alongside  the  Stingeree,  where  my  appear- 
ance caused  some  sensation.  I  went  on  deck,  and  was 
received  with  cold  courtesy  by  the  officers ;  but  still,  at 
the  same  time,  they  treated  me  politely,  and  sent  my  name 
in  to  Captain  Switchell,  without  delay ;  but  they  did  look 
as  though  they  wondered  what  I  wanted.  The  captain 
granted  me  an  interview  immediately,  and,  as  soon  as 
he  could  speak  without  being  overheard,  held  out  his  hand 
for  the  papers. 

"  You've  brought  'em,"  he  said.  "  Don't  tell  me  that 
you  haven't.  Don't  crush  me,  by  sayin'  that  some  one 
has  stolen  'em  from  you." 

I  placed  the  documents  in  his  hands  ;  and  the  old  salt 
would  have  thrown  up  his  cap,  and  given  three  cheers,  if 
he  had  not  been  fearful  of  exciting  suspicion  by  such  a 
demonstration. 

"  I'll  leave  port  this  very  night,"  he  said.  "  I'll  not 
lose  a  moment.  Damn  me  if  this  ain't  the  greatest  hit 
that  I  ever  saw.  You  don't  know  how  much  government 
owes  you." 

As  soon  as  his  enthusiasm  had  subsided  a  little,  I  asked 
for  the  loan  of  the  chaplain,  and  explained  why  I  wanted 
him. 

"Take  him,  and  welcome.  I'd  like  to  keep  him  at 
work,  for  ten  hours  a  day,  at  just  such  business.  Orderly, 
pass  the  word  for  the  chaplain." 

Mr.  Bangum  came  into  the  cabin,  with  a  sedate  smile 
on  his  face.  He  thought  that  he  was  wanted  to  take  a 
hand  at  whist,  and,  perhaps,  drink  a  glass  of  wine  ;  and  he 
was  prepared  to  do  either. 

"  Mr.  Bangum,"  said  the  captain,  "  this  is  Mr.  Barnwell, 
the  master  of  the  blockade-runner  that  lies  near  us.  He's 
a  rebel,  but  still  claims  to  have  the  consideration  of  a 
Christian.  He  wants  you  to  splice  a  couple  on  board  his 
ship  ;  and  you  have  my  permission  to  do  so.  Be  as  lively 


440  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

as  you  can  ,  for  I  intend  to  get  up  steam,  and  sail  as  soon 
as  possible." 

Mr.  Bangum  said  that  he  was  ready  to  do  all  required ; 
and  then  I  took  a  cold  and  guarded  leave  of  the  captain, 
bowed  to  the  officers  on  deck,  and  was  soon  alongside  of 
the  Belle. 

"  They  are  already  in  the  cabin,"  whispered  Bowmount. 
"  Clinch  'em,  and  then  we'll  have  a  rousing  feast.  I've 
got  one  under  way  now  ;  the  best  the  cook  can  get  up." 

We  all  entered  the  cabin,  and  found  that  Mr.  Gowen 
and  Magnolia  were  awaiting  us ;  the  latter  in  tears,  and 
the  former  looking  rather  sober  for  a  bridegroom. 

Mr.  Bangum  looked  at  the  candidates  for  matrimony, 
and  then  glanced  at  the  table,  on  which  stood,  in  loving 
proximity,  several  bottles  of  wine  and  whiskey.  He 
rubbed  his  hands,  and  smiled  in  an  encouraging  manner,  as 
though  to  assure  the  parties  contemplating  marriage  that 
there  was  nothing  so  very  dreadful  in  the  act,  even  if  they 
thought  there  was.  Then  he  put  his  hand  to  his  mouth, 
and  coughed  a  delicate  little  cough,  as  if  he  was  affected 
with  a  bronchial  trouble,  yet  did  not  desire  to  pain  his 
friends  by  giving  them  notice  of  the  fact. 

"Mr.  Bangum,"  cried  Bowmount,  "you  have  a  cold. 
Let  me  recommend  a  glass  of  whiskey.  It  will  relieve 
you  at  once,  clear  your  throat,  and  enable  you  to  do  your 
duty  with  the  utmost  despatch." 

The  chaplain  did  not  refuse,  and  neither  did  he  say  that 
he  would  accept ;  but  he  gave  another  little  cough,  and 
smiled ;  and,  before  the  smile  had  died  away,  the  Kentuck- 
ian  had  thrust  a  glass  into  his  hand,  and  poured  out  a  stiff 
dose  of  whiskey,  which  Mr.  Bangum  stowed  away  in  a 
very  short  time,  and  appeared  to  like  it.  Then  he  smacked 
his  lips,  and  turned  to  the  matrimonial  candidates,  a  smile 
on  his  face,  and  a  bright  light  on  the  tip-end  of  his  nose. 

"My  dear  young  friends,"  he  said,  "  I  am  informed  that 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  441 

you  contemplate  marriage.  It  is  a  sacred  and  divine  insti- 
tution ;  although  there  are  men  who  scout  the  latter  con- 
sideration of  the  question.  Such  people  are  to  be  looked 
upon  with  suspicion,  and  their  domestic  lives  are  to  be  taken 
into  account  as  one  reason  why  they  entertain  such  notions. 
You,  my  friends,  I  hope,  love  each  other  with  all  sincerity, 
and  will  continue  to  do  so  until  death.  Captain  Barnwell 
informs  me  that  it  is  a  long  attachment.  I  hope  that  you 
will  find  that  perfect  bliss  which  you  so  fondly  anticipate. 
Join  hands  if  you  please." 

Trembling,  and  with  downcast  eyes,  the  parties  joined 
hands,  and  were  pronounced  husband  and  wife  ;  and  I 
think  I  was  never  more  rejoiced  than  when  I  heard  the 
words  uttered. 

"Give  'em  each  a  sartificate,"  cried  the  Kentuckian 
"  and,  while  you  is  writin'  'em  out,  we'll  all  have  a  drink 
Here's  long  life  and  happiness  to  the  newly  wedded  coup'  * 
May  they  find  that  their  trials  is  over,  and  that  the} 
anchored  in  the  haven  of  rest  at  last,  never  more  to  • 
disturbed  by  the  billows  of  commotion  !  Amen." 

Mrs.  Go  wen,  as  soon  as  she  had  received  our  congra 
lations,  retired  to  her  state-room,  and  gave  vent  to    ;  • 
feelings  by  a  passionate  burst  of  tears.     I  could  understn  > 
her  emotions,  and  appreciate  them.     The  change  w  i:  • 
she  had  undergone  was  so  sudden,  so  unexpected,  tha' 
did  not  wonder  she  was  nearly  prostrated  by  emotions  > 
conflicting  nature. 


'442  RUNNING    THE    BLOCKADE. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

I  ABANDON  BLOCKADE  RUNNING. —  BOWMOUNT  SELLS 
THE  BELLE. — THE  FATE  OF  THE  BELLE. — I  MEET  MR. 
BLANK. — A  REVELATION  TO  BLANK  AND  CROSSTREES. 
— OFF  FOR  HOME. —  MY  RECEPTION  BY  SECRETARY 
WELLES. —  I  AM  APPOINTED  TO  COMMAND  THE  GUN- 
BOAT FIREFLY. —  I  VISIT  .  MISS  BLANK. —  A  FRANK 
AVOWAL.  —  OPPOSITION.  —  I  BRING  MR.  BLANK  TO 
TERMS. 

ALL  that  day  the  Kentuckian  kept  up  his  celebration 
of  Mrs.  Gowen's  marriage.  If  she  had  been  his  very 
own  daughter,  he  could  not  have  been  more  delighted, 
and  his  joy  manifested  itself  in  characteristic  fashion.  It 
should  be  a  gala-day  on  board,  and  every  man  and  boy 
should  feast  to  his  heart's  content,  and  splice  the  main 
brace  without  stint  or  limit. 

I  shared  the  joy  of  the  Kentuckian,  but  I  must  confess 
that  I  was  more  than  content  when  night  came  to  put  an 
end  to  the  noise  and  revelry. 

The  next  day  a  ship  hauled  alongside,  and  we  com- 
menced discharging  our  cotton  into  her,  Bowmount  hav- 
ing sold  the  whole  cargo  to  a  company  of  speculators, 
who  were  neutrals,  and,  consequently,  bound  to  make 
money  out  of  both  parties.  In  two  days  the  cargo  of  the 
Belle  was  discharged  into  the  ship,  and  we  had  received 
pay  for  the  same  in  good  bills  of  exchange  on  Baring 
Brothers,  London.  Bowmount  handed  to  me  a  draft  that 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  448 

represented  fifty  thousand  dollars  in  gold.  It  was  my 
share  of  the  speculation,  and  pretty  good  pay  it  seemed 
for  some  four  months'  labor  at  Nassau  and  Charleston. 

"Now,"  said  the  Kentuckian,  "let's  take  a  drink,  and 
have  a  talk,  a  real  serious  one.  Light  a  cigar.  So ;  that's 
all  right.  Now,  then,  look  at  me,  and  answer  on  your 
honor." 

"  What  is  coming  now  ? "  I  thought ;  but  I  gave  no 
sign  that  I  was  anxious. 

"  Crowd  on,"  I  said. 

"  I  will.     What  do  you  think  of  blockade-runnin'  ?  " 

"  It  seems  to  me  to  pay  pretty  well.  I  should  judge  so 
by  looking  at  the  piece  of  paper  you  just  gave  me." 

"  Yes  ;  it  does  pay.  We've  been  lucky.  The  next  trip 
might  cost  us  dear." 

"  True." 

"  I've  got  money  enough  to  give  me  a  start  in  the 
world,"  the  Kentuckian  resumed.  "  If  I  should  sell  the 
Belle  for  eighty  thousand  dollars,  I'd  have  near  three 
hundred  thousand  salted  down ;  and  that  had  ought  to 
support  a  moderate  man  like  me,  what  ain't  got  no  vices, 
except  love  for  a  glass  of  whiskey  once  in  a  while." 

"  Do  you  ask  my  advice,  Bowmount,  what  to  do  ?  " 

"  No,  not  exactly.  You  know  I  has  a  mind  of  my  own  — 
don't  you?" 

"  Yes  ;  I  am  aware  of  that." 

"  Well,  what  I  mean  is,  don't  you  think  that  blockade- 
runnin'  is  blamed  mean  business  for  two  men  like  me  and- 
you,  what  really  don't  care  about  this  quarrel?  " 

"  I  don't  know  but  it  is." 

"  Well,  Barnwell,  since  I've  made  my  pile,  my  feelin'g 
has  undergone  a  change.  Besides,  there's  more  risk  every 
day  ;  'cos  the  Yankees  will  keep  putting  on  ships  till  they 
won't  permit  a  rat  to  escape  from  out  the  Southern  ports." 

I  saw  what  the  man  was  driving  at,  and  determined  to 


444  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

encourage  him  to  the  best  of  my  ability.  I  wanted  to 
quit  the  vessel,  and  return  home  ;  and  I  had  been  puzzled 
how  to  manage  it.  Now  here  was  a  chance,  without  an 
effort  on  my  part.  I  could  leave  the  business  without 
exciting  the  suspicions  of  the  Kentuckian.  We  could 
part  good  friends,  and  go  our  several  ways  without  a  word 
of  discord.  The  very  thing  that  I  had  wished  for  had 
come  to  pass ;  for  I  had  done  with  blockade-running. 

"  Bowmount,"  I  said,  "don't  beat  about  the  bay  any 
longer.  Say,  at  once,  that  you  are  tired  of  the  business, 
and  want  to  get  out  of  it." 

"  Well,  I  do." 

"  That's  right.  Own  up  like  a  man,  and  then  I'm  with 
you.  I  don't  want  to  risk  what  I've  got  in  another  attempt 
at  blockade-running.  You  feel  the  same.  The  matter  is 
a  simple  one,  since  we  both  agree  on  the  most  important 
point.  Sell  the  vessel ;  then  we  can  go  on  shore,  and 
wait  until  we  can  take  passage  North,  or  leave  for 
Europe." 

"  And  you  won't  feel  as  though  I'd  left  you  out  in  the 
cold  ?  "  asked  the  Kentuckian,  in  an  anxious  tone. 

"  By  no  means." 

"  I  didn't  know  ;  you  are  sich  a  desperate  Southerner. 
A  rigular  fire-eatin'  South-Car'linian,  and  no  mistake." 

"  O,  gammon  I  *'  I  replied,  with  a  conscious  blush. 

"Yes,  you  is.  But  I'm  glad  to  see  that  you  is  sensible. 
We'll  sell  the  Belle  for  what  the  Englishmen  offered,  am1 
then  have  a  run  to  Europe.  Hey?" 

I  acquiesced  in  the  agreement ;  and,  the  next  day,  the 
arrangement  was  carried  out.  The  vessel  was  sold,  and 
the  new  owners  took  possession.  Our  crew  were  paid 
off;  but  most  of  them  remained  in  the  steamer,  preferring 
to  take  their  chances  at  a  second  attempt  to  enter  the 
Southern  ports  to  going  on  shore,  and  waiting  for  another 
fast-sailing  ship. 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  445 

On  shore  the  Kentuckian  and  I  took  up  our  quarters 
at  the  St.  George  Hotel,  where  we  were  treated  with  the 
utmost  distinction  on  account  of  our  Southern  connections. 
We  found  ourselves  quite  comfortable,  with  good  society 
to  pat  us  on  the  back,  and  call  us  smart  fellows  for  our 
success;  while  the  same  men  who  thus  encouraged  us 
would  have  cast  us  off  had  we  been  unfortunate.  The 
Kentuckian  knew  this  as  well  as  myself ;  so,  as  a  matter 
of  course,  he  framed  some  of  his  speeches  to  a  blunt  tune. 
But  all  that  he  said  was  glossed  over  ;  and  he  was  called 
eccentric  instead  of  impudent,  witty  instead  of  rude,  a 
noble  specimen  of  the  South,  such  as  any  nation  might  be 
proud  of. 

For  four  days  we  were  destitute  of  excitement.  The 
Belle  had  loaded  with  powder,  rifles,  cannon,  clothing,  and 
provisions,  and  sailed  for  Wilmington,  under  the  charge 
of  a  new  captain,  who  was  inexperienced  in  the  art  of 
blockade-running.  And  he  met  a  fate  that  delighted  the 
captains  and  crews  of  three  of  Uncle  Sam's  gunboats  ;  for 
the  Belle,  in  spite  of  her  speed,  got  in  a  tight  place,  and 
was  compelled  to  surrender,  even  without  the  firing  of  a 
shot.  Our  English  friends  did  not  make  much  out  of  that 
trip,  even  if  they  did  out  of  others. 

But,  at  last,  all  Bermuda  was  electrified  by  the  arrival 
of  a  large  steamer  with  three  thousand  bales  of  cotton  on 
board.  She  was  from  Wilmington ;  and  the  rumor  was 
that  she  had  met  with  no  opposition  in  leaving  port.  The 
names  of  the  owners  and  captain  did  not  transpire  ;  and  I 
was  ignorant  of  them,  until,  one  day,  who  should  enter 
the  hotel  but  my  old  friend,  Mr.  Blank,  the  polite  and 
successful  Boston  merchant,  whom  I  had  met  in  disguise  in 
Charleston,  in  company  with  old  Crosstrees.  I  think  that 
Mr.  Blank  was  a  little  astonished  when  he  saw  me.  He 
hesitated,  colored,  and  did  not  know  whether  he  should 
acknowledge  my  acquaintance  or  not ;  but,  before  he  had 
decided,  I  accosted  him. 


446  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  Why,  Mr.  Blank  I"  I  cried,  "  who  would  have  thought 
of  meeting  you  in  this  part  of  the  world  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  I  can  say  that  the  surprise  is  mutual,"  the 
merchant  returned ;  but,  as  he  spoke,  he  held  out  his 
hand,  which  I  took.  .  ^ 

"  Of  course  you  have  come  here  for  your  health,"  I 
remarked.  "  Nothing  else  could  induce  a  man  like  you  to 
visit  such  a  barren  spot  as  this." 

"  0,  yes  !  Yes.  Of  course.  My  lungs.  A  little  out 
of  order,  you  know." 

"  I  am  sorry  for  that ;  because  Bermuda  is  a  bad  place 
in  the  summer  time,  and  I  fear  that  you  won't  do  well 
here.  It  is  cooler  at  the  North  in  July." 

"  Yes ;  I  suppose  so.  But  it  was  necessary  that  I  should 
come.  I  am  surprised,  however,  to  see  you  here.  What 
good  wind  sent  you  in  this  direction  ?  " 

"0,  I'm  here  waiting  for  orders ;  and  I  hope  that  I  shall 
see  a  good  deal  of  you." 

"  Yes  ;  perhaps  you  may." 

And  the  merchant  was  about  to  turn  away,  when  I 
asked,  — 

"  Was  your  daughter  well  when  you  left  Boston,  Mr. 
Blank?" 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  quite  well." 

"  I  wish  that  you  had  brought  her  with  you." 

"  Why  so,  sir  ?  " 

And  the  proud  merchant  frowned  a  little  ;  for  he  recol 
lected  that  I  was  once  in  his  employ,  and,  consequently, 
his  inferior. 

"  Simply  because  I  like  her  society,"  was  my  blunt 
answer  ;  for  I  saw  that  I  might  as  well  commence  a  move- 
ment that  would  make  an  impression,  as  to  hold  off,  and 
pretend  to  be  awe-stricken  in  his  presence. 

"  Mr.  Constant,"  said  the  stately  Boston  merchant, 
"  you  rendered  my  daughter  valuable  service  in  Washing- 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  447 

ton.  You  have  been  thanked  for  it.  If  you  need  more, 
say  so ;  and  you  shall  be  rewarded  to  the  extent  of  any 
reasonable  amount  of  money." 

"lam  much  obliged  to  you  for  your  kindness,"  I  re- 
marked, without  manifesting  the  least  sign  of  temper; 
"  but  you  know  that  I  would  not  accept  money  for  such 
services  as  I  have  rendered,  and  it  is  but  an  insult  to  talk 
of  it  in  this  connection." 

The  merchant  bit  his  lips,  and  was  silent  for  a  moment 

"  You  spoke  so  pointed,"  he  said,  "  that  I  thought  you 
wanted  some  reward  for  the  services  you  rendered  my 
child  at  Washington." 

"Soldo." 

"Name  it,  sir." 

"  Not  at  present.  The  time  may  come  when  I  shall  be 
enabled  to  do  so." 

"  I  do  not  understand  your  meaning,  sir." 

"  No  ;  I  suppose  not.  It  would  surprise  you  very  much 
if  you  knew  my  aim  and  purpose." 

I  don't  know  what  Mr.  Blank  would  have  said,  if,  at 
that  moment,  old  Crosstrees  had  not  come  rolling  to  the 
piazza  where  we  stood,  apparently  to  speak  to  the  mer- 
chant. As  soon  as  the  old  salt  caught  sight  of  me,  he 
stopped  his  roll,  gave  his  trousers  a  hitch,  and  said,  — 

"  Blast  me  if  this  ain't  you,  and  no  mistake  !  What 
are  you  doin'  here  ?  By  the  sixteen  of  spades  I  but  this 
is  a  good  one.  I  don't  understand  it." 

"  I  suppose  not ;  and,  what  is  more,  you  ain't  likely  to, 
unless  you  stop  that  bellowing.  You  ain't  on  the  quarter- 
deck of  a  ship,  and  in  a  gale  of  wind  ;  so  take  in  sail,  and 
come  to  anchor." 

I  saw  the  old  salt  look  at  Mr.  Blank,  as  though  asking 

advice  on  the  subject.     The  latter  motioned  to  him,  and 

then  walked  off  a  few  fathoms,  so  that  they  could  consult 

without  being  overheard.     They  whispered  together  for  a 

30 


448  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

miiiute  or  two,  and  then  Mr.  Blank  strolled  off,  and  left 
old  Crosstrees  to  deal  with  me  as  best  he  could.  I  guessed 
his  object.  It  was  to  pump  me,  and  find  out  how  much  I 
knew,  and  what  I  was  doing  at  Bermuda. 

I  lighted  a  cigar,  and  sat  down  to  wait  for  the  contest. 
Old  Crosstrees  took  a  seat  near  me,  and  opened  the  cam- 
paign in  his  usual  blunt  manner. 

"  I  pay,  Constant,"  Captain  Crosstrees  remarked,  "  we 
allers  was  friends  —  now  wan't  we  ?  " 

"  O,  yes." 

"  And  you  know  that  me  and  Mr.  Blank  would  do  most 
anything  to  oblige  you." 

"I  suppose  so." 

"  We  would,  on  honor." 

"  I  don't  doubt  your  word." 

"  Now  as  we  feel  so  towards  yer,  jist  tell  us  what  you 
is  doin'  here." 

"  With  pleasure.  I'll  exchange  confidences  with  you. 
Tell  me  what  you  are  doing  here,  and  I'll  do  the  same." 

Old  Crosstrees  colored  and  hesitated,  while  he  rolled  his 
quid  in  his  capacious  mouth. 

"  Well,  the  fact  of  it  is,  Constant,  the  government  sent 
us  down  to  look  arter  its  affairs  in  this  region.  Mum,  you 
know.  Don't  say  a  word." 

"  Not  for  the  world.  But  how  does  it  happen  that  you 
arrived  on  board  a  blockade-runner  ?  " 

For  a  moment  old  Crosstrees  was  taken  completely 
aback  ;  but,  when  he  rallied,  he  blurted  out,  — 

"  That's  the  joke  of  the  thing.  We  have  wormed  out 
important  secrets ;  and  no  one  knows  that  we  are  from 
the  North." 

"  I  suppose  that  was  the  reason  you  were  in  Charleston." 

"Hey?" 

"  You  know  you  were  in  Charleston  one  or  two  days." 

"  How  did  vou  know  that  ?  " 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  449 

"  I  saw  you  there." 

44  It  ain't  so.  Hang  me,  if  it  is  so  !  I  ain't  been  in 
Charleston  for  years." 

•4  You've  been  there  within  four  weeks,"  I  answered,  IB 
a  short,  dry  tone. 

ic  No,  I  ain't,  either." 

"  Yes,  you  have." 

44  How  do  you  know  ?  " 

44  Because  I  saw  you  there." 

44  You?" 

"  Yes." 

"What  in  the  deuce  are  you  talking  about,  Constant?  " 

44  Just  what  you  hear." 

44  Are  you  in  earnest  ?  " 

44  Never  more  so,  I  assure  }rou." 

Crosstrees  looked  at  me,  in  solemn  silence,  for  a  mo- 
ment ;  and  then  he  growled  out,  — 

44  Hang  me,  if  I  know  what  you  is  drivin'  at !  " 

44  No  ;  I  suppose  not.  Yet  let  me  assure  you  that  I  saw 
you  and  Mr.  Blank  in  Charleston  less  than  four  weeks 
since." 

44 1  don't  believe  it." 

44  Very  well ;  disbelieve  it.  Some  time  I  may  be  called 
upon  to  prove  my  assertions." 

44  Look  a-here,  Constant.  Hang  it,  man !  be  fair  and 
square,  and  let  an  old  shipmate  know  what  you  mean  — 
won't  you  ?  " 

44  No ;  the  time  has  not  arrived.  Mr.  Blank  and  you 
have  nothing  to  fear  from  me.  Only  certain  remarkable 
circumstances  can  induce  me  to  utter  one  word  regarding 
the  nature  of  your  late  transactions." 

44  Name  rern,  Constant.     Do  you  want  any  money?  " 

44  No  ;  none  of  yours." 

44  Then  what  do  you  want?  Come,  be  frank  with  me. 
Treat  an  old  shipmate  and  sailor  like  a  friend." 


450  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

"  Just  as  you  have  treated  me,  hey  ?  " 
"  Hem." 

"  No,  Crosstrees,  I  shall  not  confide  my  secret  t<  yoa 
at  present.  It  is  better  in  my  keeping.  You  are  safe  : 
and  so  is  Mr.  Blank.  Go  on,  and  sell  your  cotton.  Make 
all  the  money  that  you  can ;  but  let  me  warn  you  to  no 
longer  tempt  fortune  by  running  the  blockade.  It  is 
plaj'ing  with  fire.  Keep  on,  and  you  will  get  burned.  I 
assure  you  that  such  is  the  case.  You  see  that  I  know 
all,  so  be  advised  in  time." 

"  I  don't  know  how  you  know  all  these  things  ;  but 
you  has  hit  the  nail  on  the  head  in  some  manner  ;  and, 
hang  me,  if  you  couldn't  ruin  us  with  a  turn  of  your 
paw !  But  you  won't  do  it  —  will  yer  ?  " 

"  I  have  said  that  you  and  Mr.  Blank  are  safe  at  pres- 
ent ;  but  do  not  repeat  the  experiment  if  you  wish  ine  to 
remain  your  friend.  Be  warned  in  time." 

"  Yes,  I  will.  A  heap  of  thanks  for  what  you  have 
said.  Count  on  me,  in  any  latitude  or  longitude,  you 
know.  You  has  some  secret  understanding  under  yer 
jacket,  and  when  it  is  time  to  come  out  jist  h'ist  a  signal. 
and  I'll  square  away,  and  run  down  to  yer.  I  will,  sn 
help  me  sixty  !  " 

The  old  sea-dog  maae  me  take  his  hand,  and  then  he 
left  me,  and  sought  Mr.  Blank  ;  but  I  don't  think  the  in- 
formation he  imparted  to  that  dignified  gentleman  \vas 
consoling ;  for  the  Boston  merchant  managed  to  find  me 
in  the  course  of  half  an  hour  after  Crosstrees  loft  me,  and, 
with  a  short,  genial  smile,  took  my  hand,  and  remarked,  — 

"  Constant,  you  and  Crosstrees  have  been  having  some 
conversation  together.  May  I  ask  you  to  keep  matters 
secret  for  my  sake  ?" 

"  Certainly,  you  may  ask  me  ;  and  I  tell  you  that  it  will 
depend  entirely  upon  your  own  conduct  as  to  my  course. 
Tou  know  better  than  to  violate  the  laws  of  jour  coun- 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  451 

try.  You  have  wealth  and  position,  and  need  not  embark 
in  such  business." 

"  I  know  it ;  and  I  promise  you  that  I  will  not  repeat  the 
experiment.  As  soon  as  I  sell  ship  and  cargo,  or  send 
them  to  Liverpool,  I'll  return  to  Boston  without  delay." 

"  Where  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  ;  as  I 
sail  for  home  as  soon  as  possible." 

Mr.  Blank  did  not  look  so  delighted  at  this  information 
as  one  might  have  expected.  He  merely  said,  — 

"  Ah,  indeed  !  " 

"  Have  you  any  message  that  you  wish  me  to  take  to 
your  daughter  ?  "  I  continued. 

"  O,  no  !  She  does  not  know  that  I'm  here.  It  is  not 
necessary  that  she  should  hear  from  me  oftener  than  once 
a  month." 

"  She  still  remains  in  Boston  ?  "  I  suggested. 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  I  presume  so.  It  is  not  probable  that  she 
would  leave  the  city  for  any  length  of  tune  without  con- 
sulting me." 

He  did  not  ask  me  to  call  on  Miss  Hatty,  but  I  deter- 
mined to  do  so  in  spite  of  him ;  and,  if  I  could  get  the 
start  of  him  for  a  week  or  two,  so  that  I  could  talk  to 
the  young  lady  without  much  restraint,  I  had  great  hope 
of  winning  her  for  a  wife,  for  that  was  the  extent  of  my 
ambition. 

We  parted,  with  formal  bows ;  for,  somehow,  each  of 
us  felt  as  though  there  was  a  difference  between  us,  a  gulf 
that  needed  bridging  over,  — yet  neither  of  us  was  will- 
ing to  make  the  least  advances  towards  a  mutual  under- 
standing. I  don't  think  he  even  dreamed  that  I  loved  his 
daughter ;  but  he  knew  that  something  made  me  a  little 
cold  and  distant. 

I  saw  no  more  of  Crosstrees  and  Mr.  Blank  during  my 
stay  on  the  island.  They  retired  to  their  ship,  and  kept 
out  of  sight,  —  a  wise  proceeding  on  their  part,  which  I 


462  RUNNING   THE  BLOCKADE. 

commended  most  heartily;  for  I  feared  that  they  and 
Bowmount  might  meet,  and  then  an  explanation  ensue 
that  would  damage  me  somewhat  in  my  projects. 

But  a  steamer  was  advertised  to  sail  for  New  York,  and 
in  her  the  Kentuckian  and  I  took  passage.  Before  she 
weighed  anchor,  however,  I  saw  Mrs.  Go  wen,  and  had  a  long 
and  friendly  interview.  She  was  much  happier  in  her  new 
relation  than  she  had  anticipated.  Mr.  Gowen  was  kind 
and  considerate,  tender  and  judicious;  and  his  wife  thought 
that  she  should  live  happy  with  him.  At  least  she  would 
try  to  do  so,  which  resolution  I  highly  commended  ;  and, 
after  a  few  words  of  good  advice,  I  said  adieu,  shook 
hands,  and  we  parted  the  best  of  friends. 

Let  me,  in  a  few  words,  describe  her  career  ;  for  she 
was  no  ordinary  woman.  Her  husband  turned  all  his 
property  into  gold,  and  removed  to  Paris,  where  he  is  still 
residing.  He  has  a  fortune  equal  to  a  million  or  more, 
Ikipenses  the  most  generous  hospitality  to  all,  from  the 
North  or  South,  is  free  from  all  bitterness  on  the  subject 
of  the  war,  and  loves  his  wife  most  devotedly ;  and  one 
reason  for  this  is,  that  she  is  the  most  lovely  lady,  one 
who  creates  the  most  excitement  and  admiration  of  any 
American  in  France.  The  emperor  was  partial  to  her 
company,  while  the  empress  was  really  fond  of  her,  and 
made  a  pet  of  her  at  all  times. 

No  one  has  discovered  her  secret.  It  is  guarded  by 
friends,  who  would  on  no  account  reveal  it ;  while  it  is  use- 
less to  attempt  to  identify  the  parties  by  the  names  which 
I  have  given  them.  Of  course  they  are  fictitious  ;  but 
the  characters  are  realities,  faithfully  drawn,  and  not  in 
the  least  exaggerated.  They  have  but  one  child,  born 
the  year  of  their  arrival  in  Paris.  It  is  a  boy  ;  and  the 
mother,  in  her  letters  to  me,  speaks  of  it  in  the  most 
glowing  terms.  It  is  a  sturdy  little  fellow,  and  as  hand- 
some is  an  angel.  Mr.  Gowen  is  much  attached  to  it, 


RUNNING    THE   BLOCKADE.  458 

and,  consequently,  is  in  a  fair  way  to  spoil  it.  I  hope, 
some  day,  to  see  it.  May  the  family  live  long  and  happi- 
ly together  !  Their  trials  were  severe,  and  their  courage 
well  tested.  Their  reward  is  great. 

We  left  Bermuda,  and  steamed  for  New  York,  arriving 
in  the  latter  city  after  a  five  days'  passage.  As  soon  as  we 
landed  we  sold  our  bills  of  exchange  at  a  great  advance, 
—  for  gold  was  at  a  premium,  —  and  then  found  ourselves 
in  possession  of  quite  a  fortune,  in  greenbacks  and  gov- 
ernment stocks  ;  for  I  noticed  that  Bowmount  showed  his 
confidence  in  the  stability  of  the  United  States  by  invest- 
ing most  of  his  spare  funds  in  seven-three  tenths  bonds  ; 
and  when  I  rallied  him  on  that  point,  he  wanted  to  know 
if  I  thought  he  was  a  fool. 

"  Don't  I  know  which  side  is  comin'  up,  and  which  side 
is  goin'  to  win  ?  I  have  watched  this  thing  for  some 
months,  and  know  what  I'm  about ;  and  while  I'm  on  the 
subject,  let  me  explain  to  you  that  it's  best  to  keep  shady 
while  you  is  here.  Don't  let  any  disloyal  notions  drop 
out ;  'cos,  if  you  do,  there'll  be  men  ready  to  hear  'em, 
and  report  'em.  Be  as  strong  for  the  North  as  you  can. 
at  least  in  all  your  yarnin'.  Don't  let  on  that  you  was 
born  in  South  Carolina.  There  ain't  no  occasion  for  it, 
you  know  ;  and  you  might  get  into  trouble  if  you  should 
blart  too  much." 

I  gravely  promised  to  mind  what  he  said,  and  after  a 
few  days  spent  in  New  York,  we  started  for  Washington, 
where  I  was  anxious  to  report  myself,  and  get  assigned  to 
more  agreeable  duty  than  that  which  I  had  performed.  I 
was  tired  of  secret  service,  and  its  anxieties  and  dangers. 
I  longed  for  more  noble  strife  ;  where  I  could  distinguish 
myself,  and  prove  that  I  was  worthy  of  Hatty  Blank. 

I  feared  that  the  Kentuckian  would  remain  with  me  in 
Washington,  and  thus  prevent  me  from  communicating 
with  the  proper  authorities  ;  but,  to  my  great  joy,  he  met 


464  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

a  party  of  gentlemen  from  his  own  State,  acquaintances, 
and  they  carried  him  off  home.  We  parted  the  best  of 
friends,  and  months  elapsed  before  Bowmount  knew  that 
I  was  in  the  service  of  the  United  States.  When  he  first 
heard  of  it,  he  swore  that  he  wouldn't  believe  it;  and 
when  forced  to  do  so,  smiled  a  grim  smile,  and  said,  — 

"  Shucks !  Dog  on  me  !  but  he  was  smart,  now  I  tell 
yer.  So,  he  is  a  Yankee,  is  he  ?  Well,  hang  me !  but 
I  was  half  a  Yankee  at  the  time,  and  knowed  the  North 
was  right  all  along.  I'd  like  to  see  that  Barnwell,  or 
Constant,  or  whatever  his  name  is ;  'cos  I  shall  never  for 
get  that  he  saved  me  and  my  vessel,  and  put  money  in 
my  pocket.  He's  a  trump,  and  no  mistake." 

And  so  well  did  the  Kentuckian  think  of  me,  that  he 
came  North  when  he  heard  that  I  was  wounded,  for  the 
express  purpose  of  seeing  if  I  was  likely  to  get  well.  A 
few  words  more,  and  his  history  will  be  brought  to  a  close. 
After  his  return  to  Kentucky,  he  threw  the  whole  of  his 
influence  on  the  side  of  the  Union,  raised  a  regiment, 
was  colonel  of  it,  then  made  a  general,  and  did  as  much 
as  any  other  man  to  capture  and  disperse  Morgan's  band 
of  raiders,  and  save  Kentucky  and  Ohio  from  pillage. 
He  was  in  the  army  till  the  close  of  the  war,  and  now 
owns  an  immense  plantation  in  his  native  State,  where  he 
raises  tobacco  and  animals,  and  makes  money  as  fast  as  his 
generous  nature  permits.  This  spring  I  received  a  pres- 
ent from  him,  in  the  shape  of  a  span  of  black  horses,  some 
of  his  own  raising,  and  now  I'm  debating  what  I  shall  do 
with  the  animals.  I  don't  want  to  sell  them,  for  it  wouldn't 
be  proper ;  and  I  don't  know  how  I  can  keep  them,  and 
make  them  useful.  Still  I  feel  grateful  to  Bowmount  for 
the  gift,  and  think  that  I  will  acknowledge  it  by  send- 
ing him  a  splendid  specimen  of  a  royal  Bengal  tiger.  We 
will  see  how  he  likes  it. 

But  I  must  return  to  my  narrative,  for  it  is  drawing  to 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  455 

a  close.  Soon  after  Bowmount  left  Washington,  I  waited 
upon  Mr.  Secretary  Welles,  and  reported  myself.  The 
venerable  gentleman  refused  to  see  me,  until  I  sent  in  my 
card,  with  certain  mysterious  signs  on  the  same,  which 
were  expressive,  even  if  they  were  not  beautiful. 

With  the  secretary,  I  found  Mr.  Fox,  his  assistant.  The 
latter  recollected  my  face  at  once,  and  explained  to  Mr. 
Welles  who  I  was,  and  what  duty  I  had  been  engaged  in 
The  venerable  secretary  thereupon  gave  me  his  hand  and 
his  photograph  at  the  same  time,  —  the  latter  gift  being 
designed  as  a  special  mark  of  honor,  to  be  prized  above 
all  things ;  and  as  I  knew  a  few  of  the  good  man's  pecu- 
liarities, I  told  him  that  I  should  always  cherish  it,  and 
hang  it  up  in  my  state-room  the  next  time  I  went  to  sea. 
-  "  We  have  work  for  you,  sir,  plenty  of  work,"  cried 
the  secretary,  who  watched  me  most  attentively  while  I 
was  placing  the  photograph  carefully  in  my  note-book. 
"  I  see  that  you  are  one  we  can  rely  on.  You  have  per- 
formed most  valuable  service  to  your  country,  sir.  I  hear 
you  praised  by  all  hands,  from  the  quarter-deck  to  the  — 
to  the—" 

He  looked  to  Captain  Fox  for  relief  from  his  dilemma. 
Captain  Fox  was  examining  a  chart,  and  did  not  notice  the 
appeal. 

"  Ahem  ! "  said  Mr.  Welles,  after  a  moment's  silence. 
"  I  have  heard  you  praised  by  all  the  captains  on  the  sta- 
tion ;  for  you  was  prompt  with  your  information  as  a  ma- 
rine at  — at —  " 

Another  look  at  Captain  Fox  for  assistance,  and  more 
disappointment. 

"  Ahem  !  Yes,  sir  ;  you  were  reliable  with  your  news. 
The  sailor  in  the  main-foretop  and  the  officer  in  the  cabin 
are  now  living,  to  bless  you  for  saving  their  lives  by  your 
promptness." 

I  expressed  myself  pleased  to  learn  that  such  was  the 


158  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

case,  and  wondered  where  the  secretary  picked  up  his  im 
mense  stock  of  sea  terms. 

"  That  blockade-running  was  rather  tough  sort  of  work. 
I  don't  know  but  I  should  condemn  it,  if  I  went  accord- 
ing to  a  taut  bowline  backstay,  as  sailors  say ;  but  as 
you  did  the  cause  so  much  good,  why,  we  must  overlook 
all  little  errors,  I  suppose.  Those  despatches  from  the 
Richmond  cabinet  were  invaluable.  Worth  to  us  millions 
of  dollars.  I  don't  know  how  we  should  have  got  along 
without  them." 

"  They  were  precious  as  jewels,"  Captain  Fox  remarked. 
"  They  enabled  us  to  block  a  nice  little  game." 

"  Yes ;  we  blockaded  their  game,  and  now  we  have  an- 
other mission  for  you ;  a  little  less  dangerous  than  the 
last,  perhaps,  but  still  just  the  thing  for  a  sensible,  adven- 
turous fellow  like  yourself." 

"  Perhaps  Mr.  Constant  would  like  a  furlough  of  a  few 
weeks,  after  his  arduous  duties,"  remarked  Captain  Fox. 

"  I  really  don't  see  how  we  can  spare  him.  We  were 
never  so  pressed  for  good  men,-  reliable  men,  regular  sheet 
anchors,  you  know.  You  won't  object  to  being  ordered 
away  at  short  notice,  —  will  you  ?  " 

"  I  fear  that  I  must  object,"  I  replied;  "  for  I  have  a 
great  desire  to  visit  some  friends  in  Boston." 

"  Yes,  I  know ;  but  still  you  will  be  gone  but  a  few 
days.  Now  I  want  you  to  undertake  a  mission  to  Georgia. 
Away  down  in  Savannah,  and  let  us  know  how  that  city 
is  fortified.  Find  out  all  about  the  iron-clads,  the  feeling 
of  the  people,  and  report  to  this  department  as  soon  as 
possible." 

"  You  have  laid  out  considerable  work  for  me,"  I  re- 
marked. 

"No  more  than  you  are  capable  of  performing,  judging 
from  past  performances,"  the  secretary  remarked,  with  a 
grave  smile,  combing  his  whiskers  with  his  fingers. 


RUNNING   THE  BLOCKADE.  457 

Now  I  thought  this  rather  tough.  I  had  run  more  risks, 
while  at  the  South,  than  I  cared  to  again  undertake.  I 
had  escaped  with  a  whole  skin,  but  only  through  good 
luck,  not  by  any  wit  of  my  own  ;  and,  just  as  I  supposed 
that  my  work  was  done,  another  job  was  put  before  me, 
more  repugnant  to  my  feelings  than  the  last.  I  deter- 
mined to  refuse  the  mission,  let  what  would  happen  ;  for 
I  was  ambitious  to  shine  in  a  new  sphere,  on  the  quarter- 
deck of  a  first-class  gun-boat  or  frigate, 

Captain  Fox  must  have  read  my  thoughts,  for  he  said,  — 

"  You  think  of  refusing  the  mission  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  I  thought  so ;  and,  to  tell  you  the  honest,  sailor  truth, 
I  don't  blame  you." 

"  Avast,  there  !  "  nautically  cried  Mr.  Welles.  "  Take 
a  round  turn  there,  and  belay  all  that." 

"  Mr.  Constant  is  right  in  refusing  the  mission,"  Cap- 
tain Fox  repeated.  "  He  is  known  at  the  South,  at  the 
present  time ;  and  it  would  be  a  miracle  if  he  escaped 
from  there  with  his  life.  Under  such  circumstances,  I 
don't  blame  him  for  hesitating  over  the  job.  Why  not 
make  a  commander  of  him,  and  give  him  charge  of  a 
gunboat  ?  He  has  earned  his  promotion." 

"It  is  just  the  position  I  would  have  asked,  above  all 
others,"  I  cried. 

"  But  who  is  to  go  South  ?  "  asked  the  secretary,  in  a 
tone  that  showed  he  was  hesitating  over  the  project." 

"  O,  I'll  find  a  man,"  was  the  answer. 

"  Well,  if  Lieutenant  Constant  refuses  the  mission, 
why,  I  must  do  the  best  that  I  can.  But  we  did  depend 
on  him." 

"  O,  I'll  find  a  man  who  will  answer  every  purpose  ; 
and  I'll  send  him  off  in  a  day  or  two." 

And  this  assurance  seemed  to  satisfy  the  good-natured 
secretary ;  for  he  once  more  opened  his  desk,  and  handed 


458  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

me  his  photograph,  forgetting .  that  he  had  already  given 
me  one. 

'-'  You  can  keep  it,"  the  secretary  said,  "  to  remem- 
ber me,  and  to  recollect  that  I'm  not  the  most  arbitary  of 
men,  although  some  people  say  so." 

"  I  shall  consider  you  the  kindest  of  men,  if  you  will 
write  on  the  photograph,  '  Commander  Constant,  from 
Secretary  Welles.'  " 

"  Well,  so  I  will,"  cried  the  secretary. 

And  down  went  the  words ;  and  that  is  the  manner  I 
obtained  my  promotion. 

"The  new  gunboat  Firefly,  fitting  at  the  Charlestown 
Navy  Yard,  needs  a  commander,"  suggested  Captain  Fox. 

"  Then  see  that  Commander  Constant  is  appointed  to 
her." 

And  with  a  nod  of  his  venerable  head,  the  secretary 
intimated  that  the  interview  was  terminated ;  and 
once  more  thanking  both  gentlemen,  I  retired  from  the 
"  department ;  and  just  as  I  was  leaving  the  building, 
who  should  I  meet,  face  to  face,  but  the  Union  spy, 
Colonel  Rhett,  alias  Smith,  alias  half  a  dozen  other 
names. 

"  Well,"  cried  Smith,  in  the  most  profound  astonish- 
ment, "if  I  ain't  dished!" 

"  If  you  ain't,  you  ought  to  be,"  I  remarked,  and  was 
about  to  pass  on,  when  Smith  laid  one  hand  on  my  shoul- 
der, and  beckoned  to  a  police  officer. 

"  Well,  captain,"  the  man  said,  in  a  tone  of  triumph, 
"  now  I  have  you  on  my  own  ground.  Now  I  can  set- 
tle old  scores,  and  in  a  manner  satisfactory  to  myself,  if 
not  to  you." 

"  Indeed  I  "  I  remarked,  in  so  cool  a  tone  that  the  man 
looked  a  little  more  astonished  than  ever,  if  such  a  thing 
were  possible. 

"  Yes  ;  you  will  find  it  so.     Here,  officer,  take  charge 


RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE.  45S 

of  this  man.  He  is  a  Southern  spy,  a  captain  in  the  rebel 
navy." 

"  You  are  my  prisoner,"  said  the  detective,  and  laid  a 
hand  on  my  shoulder. 

"  He's  slippery,  officer,"  cried  Smith,  who  appeared  to 
feel  that  I  was  not  safe,  but  would  escape.  "  Put  the 
bracelets  on  to  him.  Make  sure  of  him.  He's  the  deuce 
for  getting  out  of  a  small  hole." 

Just  as  the  officer  was  about  to  produce  his  irons,  who 
should  come  towards  us  but  Captain  Fox,  as  he  left  the 
department  building. 

"  Ah !  you  are  just  the  person  I  want,"  the  assistant- 
secretary  said,  as  his  eyes  fell  upon  Smith,  and,  for  the 
moment,  did  not  notice  me.  "I  want  to  see  you  on 
business  ;  it  is  important." 

"I  have  some  now,"  replied  the  Union  spy.  "Here's 
Dusiness  that  will  last  me  for  a  few  days.  I've  made  a 
capture  that  will  astonish  you.  Hang  me,  if  it  won't 
startle  you  I  Just  look  at  the  most  unblushing  rebel  in 
the  Southern  States,  and  one  that  is  capable  of  doing  much 
harm." 

Captain  Fox  did  look  at  me,  and  after  his  first  glance  of 
astonishment,  began  to  laugh. 

"  Why,  man  alive  !  "  the  secretary  said,  "  do  you  know 
whom  you  are  talking  about  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  the  worst  rebel  in  the  South." 

Again  the  secretary  laughed,  as  he  replied,  — 

"  This  is  some  strange  mistake,  sir.  You  have  arrested 
Commander  Constant,  of  the  United  States  Navy.  Offi- 
cer, release  him  immediately." 

The  detective  removed  his  hand  from  my  shoulder, 
while  Smith's  face  was  a  puzzle.  It  showed  mingled 
astonishment  and  rage  at  the  prospect  of  being  deprived 
of  his  prey. 

"  Look  here,  Captain  Fox,"  Smith  cried,  "  you  don't 


460  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

know  this  mau.  He's  dangerous,  —  mighty  dangerous,  I 
tell  you.  I've  met  him  in  South  Carolina,  and  heard  him 
plot  against  the  government.  Once  he  had  me  flogged, 
and  once  I  had  a  rope  around  his  neck.  You  never  know 
where  to  find  him,  aud  how  to  put  your  finger  on  him. 
He's  like  an  eel." 

"  O,  what  nonsense  you  talk  !  "  replied  the  secretary. 
"  You  have  been  making  too  free  with  whiskey  this  morn- 
ing. It's  apt  to  affect  the  brain,  unless  care  is  exercised. 
Come,  Constant,  walk  with  me.  I  want  to  speak  with 
you." 

He  put  his  arm  through  mine  ;  and  we  were  about  to 
move  off,  when  Smith  made  one  more  appeal. 

"  I  tell  you,  Captain  Fox,"  he  said,  "  you  are  mistaken 
in  this  man." 

"  No,  I  am  not.     You  are  the  one  mistaken." 

"  Good  -God !  "  cried  Smith,  trotting  along  by  our  side. 
"  It  can't  be  possible  that  the  captain  is  in  the  Union 
service." 

There  was  no  response  to  this." 

"  O,  hang  it  I  I  see  it  all  now,"  muttered  the  spy. 
"  What  a  fool  I've  been.  No  wonder  he  didn't  want  me 
hanged.  He  knew  me,  and  I  didn't  know  him.  We've 
been  fighting  at  cross  purposes  all  this  time.  Well,  I'm 
dead  beat  this  time,  and  no  mistake.  But  I'll  give  you 
the  credit  of  being  a  little  smarter  than  I  am.  I  don't 
bear  any  malice  ;  so  here's  my  hand.  Hereafter  I  shall 
keep  my  mouth  shut." 

We  shook  hands,  and  parted ;  and  the  next  day  Smith 
assumed  the  character  of  a  paroled  confederate  soldier, 
and  started  on  his  tour  through  the  South.  He  returned 
in  safety,  and  is  now  an  officer  on  a  gunboat,  having 
fought  well  at  Fort  Fisher  and  Mobile,  and  received  his 
promotion  through  sheer  merit  and  hard  work.  I  meet 
him  once  in  a  while,  and  we  talk  over  the  adventures  of 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  461 

the  past ;  but  when  he  speaks  of  the  flogging  which  he 
received  at  the  time  he  and  John  were  so  anxious  to  h,ing 
me,  his  shoulders  are  shrugged,  as  though  some  of  the 
pain  still  remains  in  them,  and  is  darting  through  the 
scars  which  the  cruel  whip  left.  I  hope  that  his  career 
will  be  successful  and  honorable  in  the  future  as  in  the 
past,  as  I  have  no  doubt  that  it  will  be. ' 

The  next  day  I  left  Washington,  and  started  for  Bos- 
ton, which  city  I  was  anxious  to  reach  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble, for  the  purpose  of  having  an  interview  with  Miss 
Hatty  Blank.  Much  of  my  future  happiness  depended 
upon  the  manner  in  which  she  met  me  ;  so  no  wonder  I 
felt  a  little  nervous,  and  desired  to  look  my  best  while  in 
her  presence. 

The  first  day  I  arrived  in  Boston  I  had  a  commander's 
uniform  made  ;  and  when  it  was  finished,  donned  it, 
and  then  took  a  good  look  at  myself  in  the  glass.  I  felt 
so  well  satisfied  with  my  appearance,  that  I  determined  to 
call  upon  Miss  Hatty  in  my  new  dress  ;  for  I  knew  that 
women  like  the  appearance  of  a  neat  uniform,  and  do  not 
disdain  casting  glances  at  a  good-looking  man  inside  of 
one. 

Miss  Hatty  resided  on  the  new  lands  on  the  Back  Bay, 
in  a  large  freestone  house,  one  of  the  best  in  a  block  of 
four.  Mr.  Blank's  name  was  on  the  door,  so  I  had  no 
trouble  in  finding  the  building ;  but  I  must  confess  that 
my  heart  beat  rather  wildly  as  I  touched  the  bell,  and 
awaited  the  arrival  of  a  servant. 

I  thought  of  a  dozen  things  while  standing  on  the  stoop. 
Perhaps  she  was  not  in,  or  was  sick,  or  would  not  see 
me.  Or,  it  might  be  her  father  was  at  home,  and 
would  interfere  with  the  interview  which  I  .so  much 
desired.  But  all  speculations  ceased  as  the  door  opened, 
and  a  colored  servant  appeared. 

:<  Is  Miss  Blank  at  home  ?  "  I  asked. 


462  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  I  will  see,  sar,.if  you  will  walk  in,"  was  the  answer. 

I  was  shown  into  an  elegantly  furnished  reception-room, 
handed  my  card  to  the  servant,  who  received  it.  on  a  silver 
salver,  and  then  disappeared.  He  was  gone  five  minutes 
before  he  returned.  Then  he  said,  — 

"  Miss  Blank  is  in,  sar.  Will  you  be  kind  enough  to 
walk  into  the  drawing-room,  sar?  " 

I  complied  with  the  request,  and  found  it  even  more 
brilliant  than  the  reception-room.  French-plate  look- 
ing-glasses were  over  the  mantles  and  at  each  end  of  the 
room.  The  walls  were  covered  with  pictures,  and  the 
furniture  was  rosewood ;  while  the  carpet  was  so  thick 
and  soft  that  a  footstep  could  not  be  heard  on  it.  By  all 
odds,  I  think  that  it  was  the  richest  room  I  had  ever  en- 
tered at  the  time  ;  and  all  things  considered,  I  do  not 
wonder  that  I  felt  a  little  taken  aback  at  such  evidences 
of  wealth  and  refinement. 

I  sat  down,  and  waited  ten  minutes.  All  that  time  I 
felt  my  courage  sinking  lower  and  lower  ;  and  had  it  not 
been  for  shame's  sake,  I  should  have  run  away,  and  waited 
till  some  other  day  before  seeking  an  interview. 

"  Courage,"  I  said,  with  a  thump  on  my  heart.  "  She 
is  but  a  girl,  and  can't  hurt  a  man  like  me.  Why  should  I 
be  afraid  ?  I  won't  be  intimidated.  I'll  see  her,  if  I  have 
to  remain  here  all  day." 

"  Why,  Captain  Constant !  how  glad  I  am  to  see  you  !  " 
a  soft,  sweet  voice  said ;  and  turning,  and  starting  up,  I 
saw  Miss  Blank  more  lovely  than  ever,  standing  near  me, 
with  outstretched  hands.  She  had  entered  the  room  so 
quietly  that  I  had  not  heard  her. 

"  Miss  Blank  !  "  I  cried,  and  caught  her  hands  in  both 
of  mine,  and  looked  at  her,  too  full  of  emotion  to  say 
another  word. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you,"  the  young  lady  said,  and  made 
an  effort  to  free  her  hands  from  my  strong  grasp  ;  but  I 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  463 

resisted,  so  she  gave  up  the  attempt,  with  a  smile  and 
a  blush.  "  Haven't  you  a  word  to  say  to  me,  Captain 
Constant  ?  "  asked  the  lady,  seeing  that  I  remained  silent. 

"lam  so  happy  at  seeing  you  once  more,"  I  replied, 
"  that  I  find  words  fail  me  just  when  they  are  needed 
most." 

"  I  am  sure  I  hope  that  you  did  not  leave  your  tongue 
with  the  rebels.  You  used  to  talk  fast  enough  when  we 
met  in  Washington.  Do  you  remember  the  fellow  who 
insulted  me,  and  how  kind  you  were  in  defending  me? 
Come,  sit  down,  and  tell  me  all  about  your  wanderings. 
You  don't  know  how  glad  I  am  that  you  have  returned 
home.  I  have  thought  of  you  quite  often.  It  was  only 
yesterday,  I  wondered  what  had  become  of  you.  You 
may  laugh,  but  it  is  true." 

I  led  her  to  a  seat  ;  and  not  till  then  did  I  release  her 
hands,  and  ask,  — 

"  And  how  often  do  you  think  I  have  thought  of  you, 
while  absent  ?  " 

"  O,  I  don't  know.  Perhaps  once  or  twice.  You 
gentlemen  are  rather  fickle-minded,  I  believe.  I  have 
heard  so,  at  any  rate." 

"I  can  only  answer  for  myself,"  I  returned;  "for  I 
have  thought  of  but  you  since  absent." 

I  felt  that  this  interview  with  the  idul  of  my  heart, 
was  an  ample  reward  for  all  the  hardships  and  dangers  I 
had  undergone,  and  a  more  delightful  one  than  even 
my  new  commission  as  Commander. 

We  talked  for  a  long  time  quite  confidentially  ;  and  I 
felt  myself  more  in  love  than  ever.  At  last  I  rose 
*>  take  my  departure  ;  but  Miss  Hatty  insisted  that  I 
should  not  go  just  yet ;  so  I  was  forced  to  resume  my 
seat. 

"  I  am  so  sorry  that  my  father  is  absent  from  home," 
the  lady  said,  as  we  resumed  conversation.  "  He  has 
31 


464  RUNNING    THE    BLOCKADE. 

often  spoken  of  you,  and  in  such  high  terms  that  you 
would  be  pleased  if  you  knew  what  he  said." 

"  May  I  ask  where  he  is  ?  " 

"  O,  he  went  to  New  Orleans,  to  see  about  some  land 
he  owned  there.  I  expect  him  home  in  the  course  of  a 
week  or  two." 

So  the  daughter  knew  nothing  about  the  father's  en- 
gaging in  blockade-running.  If  such  was  the  case,  I  was 
not  the  one  to  enlighten  her.  As  far  as  I  was  concerned, 
his  disgrace  should  never  reach  her  ears. 

"  I  met  a  cousin  of  yours  while  I  was  South,"  I  said, 
after  I  had  thought  over  the  matter  of  the  father's  absence, 
and  how  cunningly  he  had  kept  the  reason  from  his  family. 

"  O,  yes,  —  Charley  Reefpoiut.  He  has  spoken  of  you 
ever  so  many  times.  I  suppose  you  know  that  he  is  in 
the  city." 

"  No  ;  I  did  not." 

"  He  has  been  here  more  than  a  week.  And  don't  you 
think,  he  once  admitted  that  he  had  seen  papa  in  Charles- 
ton ;  and  when  I  expressed  surprise,  he  seemed  quite  con- 
fused, and  denied  that  he  had  said  so.  I  must  have 
misunderstood  him,  he  argued  ;  but  I  am.  certain  that  I  did 
not.  What  did  he  mean  ?  " 

I  comforted  the  dear  girl  as  well  as  I  was  able,  and  told 
her  that  her  cousin  might  have  been  playing  a  practical 
joke,  and  then  repented  of  his  rashness.  At  any  rate, 
there  was  nothing  to  fear.  If  Master  Reefpoiut  met  her 
father  at  all,  it  was  in  New  Orleans,  where  he  was  look- 
ing after  his  property,  and  trying  to  prevent  its  being 
confiscated  by  the  Federals. 

While  we  were  conversing,  who  should  enter  the  house 
but  the  person  of  whom  we  were  speaking,  —  Master 
Midshipman  Reefpoint,  —  looking  as  bold,  as  handsome, 
and  as  intelligent  as  ever.  He  was  glad  enough  to  see 
me  ;  and  I  was  pleased  to  see  him,  and  more  than  pleased 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  465 

to  tell  him  that  his  commission  as  lieutenant  was  already 
made  out,  and  that  further  promotion  awaited  him,  in 
good  time,  if  he  was  prudent  and  considerate. 

The  delight  of  Charley  was  so  great  that  he  would  have 
kissed  his  cousin  if  she  had  been  willing  to  receive  the 
embrace.  She  probably  thought  that  it  was  not  just  the 
thing  to  be  kissed  by  a  lieutenant  of  the  navy,  however 
pleasant  it  might  be  to  the  young  gentleman ;  so  she  re- 
fused to  allow  Reefpoint  to  touch  her  lips,  which  did  not, 
in  the  least,  disconcert  her  cousin,  for  he  had  the  impu- 
dence to  turn  to  me,  and  remark, — 

"  Never  mind,  Constant.  I  hav,e  kissed  her  ;  and  you 
may  if  you  are  smart  enough." 

"  You  are  a  saucy  boy,''  replied  the  indignant  Hatty, 
her  face  flushing  scarlet.  But  Master  Reefpoint  did  not 
stop  to  hear  a  lecture.  He  saw  that  he  was  not  wanted ; 
so  after  making  an  appointment  to  meet  me  on  board  the 
Firefly  the  next  morning,  he  took  his  departure,  and  once 
.more  left  us  together,  thus  enjoying  several  hours  of 
complete  happiness.  When  I  left  the  house,  I  promised 
to  call  the  next  day,  and  did  so,  and  continued  to  call 
quite  frequently,  until  one  day  I  resolved  that  I  would 
disclose  my  passion. 

"  Hatty,"  I  said,  one  afternoon,  "  do  you  recollect  the 
first  time  I  ever  saw  you  ?  " 

"  O,  yes  ;  it  was  in  my  father's  counting-room." 

"  And  do  you  know  from  that  time  to  the  present  I 
have  loved  you  most  dearly  ?  " 

She  turned  deadly  pale,  then  flushed  scarlet,  while  tears 
came  into  her  eyes,  and  she  covered  her  face  with  her 
white  hands. 

"  Dear  Hatty  !  "  I  whispered,  and  stole  an  arm  around 
her  waist,  and  pressed  her  to  my  heart ;  while  her  fail 
head  fell  on  my  shoulder,  and  I  felt  her  sweet  breath  on 
my  cheek. 


466  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

She  did  not  answer  me,  but  continued  to  shed  tears. 
I  was  pretty  well  assured  that  they  were  not  tears  of 
anger. 

"Dear  Hatty,"  I  continued,  and  managed  to  touch 
her  lips,  "  please  speak  to  me,  and  tell  me  that  you  do 
not  hate  me." 

"  No,  I  don't  hate  you,"  was  the  answer. 

"  And  you  will  love  me  a  little  ?  "  I  asked. 

"Yes,  just  a  little,"  was  the  whispered  response;  and 
then  a  smile  stole  over  her  handsome  face,  and  mischief 
beamed  from  her  dark  eyes. 

"  O  I  but  I  want  to  be  loved  a  good  deal,"  I  said. 

"  But  you  only  asked  for  a  little." 

"  I  know  ;  but  now  that  you  have  assured  me  of  a  little, 
do  give  me  as  much  as  you  can." 

Then  she  came  out  serious.  She  raised  her  head,  and 
looked  me  full  in  the  face. 

"  Frank,"  she  said,  and  placed  both  little  hands  on  my 
shoulders,  "  do  you  love  me  with  your  whole  heart  ?  " 

"  As  God  is  my  judge,  I  do  'love  you  with  my  whole 
heart  and  soul." 

"  And  you  will  always  love  me  as  dearly  as  al 
present  ?  " 

"  Such  shall  be  my  prayer,  Hatty.  Every  day  since 
we  parted  at  Washington  I  have  thought  of  you,  and 
the  more  I  thought  of  you,  the  more  I  learned  to  love 
you." 

"  Now  hear  me,"  said  the  young  girl,  still  in  a  serious 
tone.  "  From  the  time  we  separated  at  Washington,  until 
the  present,  I  have  loved  you." 

"  And  do  you  mean  to  intimate  that  you  do  not  still 
love  me?  " 

"  No,  far  from  it ;  "  and  down  went  her  lovely  face  on 
ny  shoulder.  "  I  mean,"  she  whispered,  "  that  I  love 
fou  more  than  ever ;  but  not  more  than  you  deserve,  I  am 
rare." 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  467 

With  that  fair  head  resting  on  my  shoulder,  and  that 
beautiful  blushing  face  close  to  my  own,  we  fell  into  that 
silence  which  to  lovers  is  more  el  )quent  than  spoken 
words.  How  trifling  and  unimportant  seemed  all  the 
hazards  and  hardships  I  had  undergone,  compared  with 
the  richness  of  this  recompense? 

Now  I  was  rich  enough  in  worldly  goods  to  claim  the 
hand  of  her  whose  heart  was  already  mine,  and  I  held  a 
rank  in  the  United  States  Navy  that  would  entitle  me, 
even  in  the  eyes  of  Mr.  Blank,  I  hoped,  to  sue  for  the 
hand  of  the  highest  lady  in  the  land. 

"Ten  thousand  thanks,  darling,"  I  said,  after  she -had 
made  her  confession.  Now  there  is  but  one  more  prom- 
ise that  I  require  on  your  part,  to  make  me  supremely 
happy." 

"  Name  it ; "  and  she  looked  up  as  she  spoke,  a  smile 
on  her  face,  as  though  she  anticipated  the  request  which 
I  had  to  make. 

"  The  promise  of  this  dear  hand  at  an  early  day." 

'*  It  is  yours,"  she  answered ;  "  but  you  must  first 
obtain  my  father's  consent." 

"  And  that  he  will  not  obtain  in  a  hurry,"  said  a  stern 
voice  at  the  door. 

Hatty  uttered  a  little  scream,  started  up,  and  then  ran 
towards  her  father,  who  stood  looking  at  us  in  a  sullen 
manner,  as  though  angry  at  what  he  had  witnessed. 

"  O,  papa  !  "  the  lady  cried,  "  how  pleased  I  am,  that 
you  have  returned  home  !  " 

She  would  have  thrown  her  arms  around  his  neck  ;  but 
he  refused  the  embrace,  putting  her  away  from  him 
haughtily  and  sternly. 

"  So  !  "  he  said,  "  while  I  am  away  on  business,  you 
occupy  your  time  in  love-making,  do  you  ?  Go  to  your 
room  this  instant;  I  am  ashamed  of  you." 

"  Dear  papa,"  the  young  lady  cried,   "  I   have  done 


468  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

nothing  to  be  ashamed  of.  I  will  tell  you  all  that  has 
passed  between  Mr.  Constant  and  myself.  I  am  sure  that 
you  will  not  disapprove  of  it." 

"  I  will  hear  nothing.  Go  to  your  room,  I  tell  you.  I 
have  other  designs  for  you  besides  one  of  my  shipmasters." 

Hatty  gave  me  one  tearful  look,  and  then  left  the  room, 
her  father  closing  the  door  after  her. 

During  the  whole  of  this  scene  I  had  sat  on  the  sofa, 
and  listened  in  silence  to  what  had  passed,  knowing  that 
the  time  wouH  soon  come  when  all  of  my  courage  and 
calmness  would  be  required  to  meet  a  crisis. 

"  Now,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Blank,  facing  me,  after  having 
closed  the  door,  "  I  am  ready  to  attend  to  you." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it,  for  I  am  prepared,"  I  replied. 

"  Don't  you  think,  sir,"  Mr.  Blank  continued,  "  that 
you  have  done  a  mean  action,  to  thus  take  advantage  of 
my  absence,  and  sneak  into  my  house  for  the  purpose  of 
making  love  to  my  only  child  ?  " 

"  To  tell  you  the  truth,  I  don't  see  the  mean  point,"  I 
replied,  with  unruffled  temper.  "  As  for  sneaking  into 
your  house,  you  are  mistaken.  I  entered  it  as  other  gen- 
tlemen do,  —  by  the  front  door,  and  in  an  upright  manner. 
Your  daughter  received  me  as  a  friend,  and  I  trust  that  I 
am  one." 

"  She  will  have  no  further  occasion  for  your  friendship, 
sir,  She  will  leave  town  to-day,  and  you  will  see  her  no 
more." 

"  I  am  sorry  for  that,"  was  my  reply,  "  for  a  moment 
ago  I  asked  her  to  be  my  wife." 

"And  what  answer  did  she  return?"  demanded  Mr. 
Blank,  his  face  expressing  the  rage  he  felt. 

"  An  answer  that  gave  me  much  pleasure.  If  you  were 
willing,  she  was." 

"  Well,  sir,  understand  me  at  once.  I  am  not  willing. 
So  let  that  settle  the  matter,  if  you  please." 


RUNNING   THE   BLOCKADE.  469 

"  Pardon  rne,  Mr.  Blank,  if  I  am  persistent ;  but  I  must 
say  that  I  cannot  consent  to  such  an  arrangement.  I 
love  your  daughter,  and  she  loves  me.  I  mean  to  marry 
her." 

"  Confusion  !    Are  you  mad,  man  ?  " 

"  No  ;  I  am  quite  sane.  I  shall  marry  her,  and  with 
your  consent." 

"  Do  you  recollect  who  you  are  ?  "  thundered  the  hot- 
blooded  merchant. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  I  replied,  loftily  ;  "  I  have  the  honor  to  be 
a  commander  in  the  United  States  naval  service." 

"  And  do  you  know  who  I  am  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.  ^ You  are  a  merchant,  and  reported  worth 
a  million  dollars." 

"  Precisely,  sir.  "Well,  now  answer  me  this  question. 
Is  it  the  girl  or  my  money  that  you  want  ?  " 

"  The  question  is  an  insult ;  but  still  I  will  answer  it. 
I  do  not  want  your  money.  I  have  enough  of  my  own. 
I  can  command  a  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  ;  and 
tL;tt  is  a  comfortable  sum  for  a  man  like  me." 

"  And  pray  how  did  you  make  so  much  money  in  so 
short  a  time  ? "  asked  Mr.  Blank,  with  a  sneer,  which 
showed  he  did  not  believe  my  statement. 

"  By  running  the  blockade,  and  capturing  blockade- 
runners.  We  cut  one  out  at  Nassau  which  gave  me  about 
forty  thousand  dollars  in  prize-money." 

When  I  mentioned  blockade-running,  Mr.  Blank  mani- 
fested some  little  uneasiness.  He  showed  guilt  at  once  ; 
but  still  he  was  determined  to  brave  me,  and  drive  me 
from  the  house  ;  and  I  was  equally  determined  in  my 
resolution  not  to  be  driven. 

"I  am  glad  that  you  have  been  successful,  Constant," 
the  merchant  said,  his  tone  a  little  modified  ;  "  but  still 
you  will  see  that  I  can't  change  my  views.  My  daughter 
is  no  wife  for  you." 


470  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

"  And  may  I  ask  the  reason  ?  " 

"  The  reason,  sir !  "  he  exclaimed,  growing  angry  again. 
"  Why,  look  at  my  position,  and  then  at  yours,  and  let 
that  answer  you." 

"  Well,  I  have  looked  the  matter  over,  and  I  still  sef 
nothing  discouraging." 

"You  don't?" 

"  No,  sir ;  and  to  tell  the  truth,  I  think  that  the  pro- 
posed alliance  would  confer  great  honor  on  you." 

"  The  deuce  you  do  !  Well,  you  are  a  cool  one,  I  muet 
say.  Pray  explain  what  you  mean  by  it." 

"  Simply  this.  I  rank  as  a  captain  in  the  United  States 
service." 

"  Yes.     You  have  once  before  mentioned  that  point." 

"  Just  so.  Well,  the  position  is  an  honorable  one,  is  it 
not  ?  " 

"Certainly.  No  one  disputes  that.  Still,  it  is  not 
high  enough  to  justify  you  in  aspiring  to  my  daughter's 
hand." 

Mr.  Blank,  as  he  uttered  these  words,  looked  the  rich 
merchant  in  every  feature  of  his  proud  face. 

"  I  am  coming  to  that  point,"  I  continued,  still  as  cool 
as  man  could  be  under  the  circumstances.  "  Now,  who 
do  you  think  is  deserving  of  reward,  —  a  man  who  is  will- 
ing to  serve  his  country  by  fighting  for  it,  or  one  who 
forgets  himself  so  far  as  to  plot  against  it  ?  " 

Mr.  Blank  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  his  face  glowing  with 
anger,  as  he  asked,  — 

"  Do  you  mean  to  insinuate  anything  ?  Do  you  dare 
to  insult  me  ?  " 

"  I  ask  a  question,  and  you  become  enraged.  I  insinu- 
ate nothing,  but  want  an  answer." 

"  No  answer  can  you  receive  until  you  explain  yourself. 
It  is  the  basis  of  an  understanding  between  us." 

"  Very  well,  sir  ;  then  I  will  explain.     You  must  ro- 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  471 

member  that  I  met  you  at  Bermuda,  in  company  with 
Captain  Crosstrees." 

"  Yes ;  but  what  of  it  ?  " 

"  Much,  as  you  will  see.  A  few  weeks  before,  we  had 
the  pleasure  of  meeting  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina." 

"  It  is  false  !  "  thundered  the  angry  merchant.  "  Leave 
my  house  this  instant." 

"  It  is  not  false ;  and  I  shall  not  leave  your  premises 
until  you  have  heard  the  whole  of  my  story.  Then  I  will 
start  quick  enough  to  please  even  you." 

He  made  no  further  remark,  so  I  continued : 

"I  met  you  at  Charleston,  aboard  the  enemy's  iron-clad, 
where  you  had  a  long  conference  with  Captain  Maulhead 
on  the  prospect  of  blockade-running." 

"  It  is  false  !  " 

"  After  you  left  the  Palmetto,  you  were  accosted  in  the 
street  by  your  nephew,  Mr.  Reefpoint ;  but  you  pretended 
that  you  did  not  know  him.  I  saw  the  interview,  and 
heard  all  that  passed." 

"  Curses  on  you  I "  muttered  the  merchant,  grinding  his 
teeth. 

"  Then  you  went  on  board  the  blockade-runner  Belle, 
and  had  a  long  interview  with  the  captain." 

"  How  do  you  know  that  ?  " 

"  I  was  present." 

"  Impossible.     Only  three  persons  were  in  the  cabin." 

«*  Yet  I  was  there." 

"  I  don't  believe  it.' 

"  I  can  prove  it  by  producing  a  package  of  papers  which 
you  dropped  on  the  cabin  floor.  You  remember  that  you 
came  back  for  them." 

A  look  of  dismay  passed  over  the  man's  face.  He 
trembled  for  the  first  time.  He  saw  that  he  stood  over  a 
mine,  and  that  an  explosion  was  likely  to  occur  at  any 
moment. 


472  RUNNING  THE  BLOCKADE. 

"  Are  those  papers  safe  ?  "  he  presently  asked,  in  a  fal- 
tering tone. 

"  Yes ;  so  safe  that  I  know  where  to  place  my  hand  on 
them  at  any  time." 

"  Name  your  price  for  them." 

"  Your  daughter's  hand." 

"  I  mean  in  gold." 

"  Your  daughter  is  more  precious  to  me  than  gold." 

"  Are  those  the  only  terms  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  although  I  tell  you,  candidly,  I  have  no  inten- 
tion of  using  the  papers  to  your  injury.  I  have  too 
much  respect  for  you  to  see  an  honored  name  disgraced." 

"  Thank  you."  And  the  merchant  smiled  somewhat 
bitterly.  "  If  you  are  so  noble,  be  man  enough  to  place 
the  papers  in  my  hand,  and  trust  to  my  generosity." 

"  No ;  I  am  too  well  acquainted  with  human  nature  for 
that." 

"  Has  any  one  excepting  yourself  seen  the  papers  ?  " 

"  No  one  but  myself." 

"  And  will  you  tell  me  how  you  obtained  possession  of 
them?" 

"  Yes.     I  found  them  on  the  cabin  floor  of  the  Belle." 

"  And  why  did  you  not  give  them  up  when  I  returned 
for  them?" 

"  Because  I  thought  them  safer  with  me  than  with 
you." 

Mr.  Blank  drew  a  long  breath.  Then,  after  a  pause, 
he  asked,  — 

"  Where  were  you  when  I  was  talking  with  the  cap 
tain  of  the  Belle  ?  ' 

"  Right  before  you.     Captain  Barnwell  and  I  are  one." 

Mr.  Blank  was  astonished. 

"  I  never  should  have  suspected  such  a  thing,"  he  mut- 
tered. 

Then  he  walked  to  the  window,  and  looked  out  upon 
the  Common  and  Public  Garden* 


RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE.  478 

I  arose,  and  moved  towards  the  door,  intending  to  take 
my  leave.  Mr.  Blank  heard  me,  and  turned  from  the 
window. 

"  Where  are  you  going,  Constant  ?  "  he  inquired. 

"  To  my  ship!" 

"  Can't  you  remain  to  dinner?  " 

"  Yes,  if  you  will  treat  me  as  an  equal  and  a  friend  " 

"  Wait,"  he  said,  and  touched  a  bell. 

A  colored  servant  appeared. 

"  Inform  Miss  Blank  thit  I  wish  to  see  her  without 
delay,"  the  merchant  said. 

Five  minutes  elapsed  before  the  young  lady  appeared. 
In  the  mean  time  Mr.  Blank  did  not  utter  a  word,  nor 
did  I  speak. 

When  Hatty  entered  the  apartment,  I  saw  that  she  had 
been  weeping ;  for  her  eyes  were  ved  and  swollen. 

"  Hatty,"  said  her  father,  taking  her  hand,  "  this  gen- 
tleman wants  you  for  a  wife ;  are  you  willing  to  take  him 
for  a  husband  ?  " 

"  Yes,  papa,  if  you  consent." 

"  And  are  you  sure  that  you  love  him,  my  child  ?  " 

"  Quite  sure,  papa." 

Ana  the  young  lady  left  her  father,  and  came  to  me. 
placing  both  her  hands  in  mine,  in  token  of  her  confidence 
and  love. 

"  I  am  glad,  my  child,"  said  the  merchant,  "  that  you 
have  placed  your  affections  on  so  worthy  a  man.  You 
have  my  approval  and  blessing.  May  you  both  be  as 
happy  as  you  deserve." 

Then  he  left  us  alone. 

"  What  has  changed  papa  in  so  short  a  time  ?  "  askod 
Hatty,  wonderingly,  as  she  nestled  down  by  my  side. 

"  A  frank  statement  of  my  affairs,"  was  the  reply. 

And  that  satisfied  her ;  for  she  was  too  happy  to  in- 
vestigate, or  else  did  not  care  to.  She  never  knew  the 


474  RUNNING  THE   BLOCKADE. 

means  that  were  employed  to  bring  her  father  to  terms, 
and  she  never  learned  the  reason  of  his  absence  from  home 
while  in  the  South. 

From  that  day  Mr.  Blank  treated  me  like  a  son.  Hia 
house  was  my  home.  All  my  projects  he  was  ready  to 
second  as  heartily  as  I  could  wish  ;  and  instead  of  oppos- 
ing an  early  marriage,  he  readily  acquiesced  when  I  sug- 
gested that  the  wedding  should  take  place  before  I  sailed 
in  the  Firefly. 

It  was  a  quiet  wedding.  Only  our  intimate  friends 
were  present.  Hatty  had  insisted  on  this,  and  she  had 
her  own  way.  I  was  enabled  to  remain  with  her  two 
months  before  my  vessel  was  ready.  Then  we  parted ; 
and  when  next  we  met,  I  was  suffering  from  a  wound  re- 
ceived at  Fort  Fisher.  She  tended  me  like  an  angel 
through  my  illness,  but  declared  that  I  should  give  up  the 
sea,  and  love  her  on  the  land.  And  she  is  as  precious  to 
me  now  as  on  the  day  we  were  married. 

And  so  I  close  my  log,  by  wishing  my  readers  as  much 
happiness  as  I  really  enjoy  in  the  possession  of  a  young 
and  lovely  wife.  Mr.  Blank  is  loyal  to  the  core.  All  of 
his  money  is  in  government  bonds,  and  so  free  of  taxation ; 
consequently  he  is  happy.  His  grandchildren  expect  to 
fare  well  in  his  will.  Let  us  hope  they  won't  be  disap- 
pointed. 


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4  SLAVER'S  ADVENTURES 

ON   SEA  AND    LAND. 


"We  saw  many  species  of  wild  animals."    Page  39. 


By   WM.    H.    THOMES, 

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Form  L-9-lf»/i-7,'::i 


3030     Thome s  - 
panning  : 
blockade 


UCLA-Young  Research   Library 

PS3030   .T36r 

y 


L  009  607  813  4 


UNIVERSITY 


